["Or\tthe\tnext. Or\tthe\tnext.","The\t mines\t in\t Calaculla\t were\t stifling,\t and\t the\t slave\t girl\t could\t only\t imagine how\tmuch\tworse\tthey\twould\tbecome\twhen\tthe\tsummer\tsun\twas\toverhead. She\thad\tbeen\tin\tthe\tmines\tfor\tsix\tmonths--longer\tthan\tanyone\telse\thad\tever survived,\tshe'd\tbeen\ttold.\tHer\tmother,\tand\ther\tgrandmother,\tand\ther\tlittle\tbrother hadn't\t lasted\t a\t month.\t Her\t father\t hadn't\t even\t made\t it\t to\t the\t mines\t before Adarlan's\tbutchers\thad\tcut\thim\tdown,\talong\twith\tthe\tother\tknown\trebels\tin\ttheir village.\tEveryone\telse\thad\tbeen\trounded\tup\tand\tsent\there. She'd\tbeen\t alone\t for\t five\t and\ta\thalf\t months\tnow--alone,\tyet\tsurrounded\t by thousands.\t She\t couldn't\t remember\t the\t last\t time\t she'd\t seen\t the\t sky,\t or\t the grasslands\tof\tEyllwe\tundulating\tin\ta\tcool\tbreeze. She\t would\t see\t them\t both\t again,\t though--the\t sky\t and\t the\t grasslands.\t She knew\tshe\twould,\tbecause\tshe'd\tstayed\tawake\ton\tnights\tshe\twas\tsupposed\tto\thave been\t sleeping,\t listening\t through\t the\t cracks\t in\t the\t floorboards\t as\t her\t father\t and his\t fellow\t rebels\t talked\t of\t ways\t to\t bring\t down\t Adarlan,\t talked\t of\t Princess Nehemia,\twho\twas\tin\tthe capital\tat\tthat\tvery\tmoment,\tworking\tfor\ttheir\tfreedom. If\t she\t could\t just\t hold\t on,\t if\t she\t could\t just\t keep\t drawing\t breath,\t she\t might make\tit\tuntil\tNehemia\taccomplished\ther\tgoal.\tShe\twould\tmake\tit,\tand\tthen\tbury her\tdead,\tand\twhen\tthe\tmourning\tmonths\twere\tover,\tshe\twould\tfind\tthe\tnearest rebel\t group\t and\t join\t them.\t With\t every\t Adarlanian\t life\t she\t took,\t she\t would\t say the\t names\t of\t her\t dead\t again,\t so\t that\t they\t would\t hear\t her\t in\t the\t afterlife\t and know\tthey\twere\tnot\tforgotten. She\tswung\ther\tpickax\tinto\tthe\tunforgiving\twall\tof\tstone,\ther\tbreath\tragged\tin her\t parched\t throat.\t The\t overseer\t lounged\t against\t a\t nearby\t wall,\t sloshing\t his water\tin\this\tcanteen,\twaiting\tfor\tthe\tmoment\twhen\tone\tof\tthem\twould\tcollapse, just\tso\the\tcould\tunfurl\tthat\twhip\tof\this. She\tkept\ther\thead\tdown,\tkept\tworking,\tkept\tbreathing. She\twould\tmake\tit. She\tdidn't\tknow\thow\tmuch\ttime\tpassed,\tbut\tshe\tfelt\tthe\tripple\tgo\tthrough\tthe","mines\tlike\ta\tshudder\tin\tthe\tearth.\tA\tripple\tof\tstillness,\tfollowed\tby\twails. She\tfelt\tit\tcoming,\tswelling\tup\ttoward\ther,\tcloser\tand\tcloser\twith\teach\tturned head\tand\tmurmured\twords. And\tthen\tshe\theard\tit--the\twords\tthat\tchanged\teverything. Princess\tNehemia\tis\tdead.\tAssassinated\tby\tAdarlan. The\twords\twere\tpast\ther\tbefore\tshe\thad\ttime\tto\tswallow\tthem. There\t was\t a\t scrape\t of\t leather\t against\t rock.\t The\t overseer\t would\t tolerate\t the pause\tfor\tonly\tseconds\tlonger\tbefore\the\tstarted\tswinging. Nehemia\tis\tdead. She\tstared\tdown\tat\tthe\tpickax\tin\ther\thands. She\tturned,\tslowly,\tto\tlook\tinto\tthe\tface\tof\ther\toverseer,\tthe\tface\tof\tAdarlan. He\tcocked\this\twrist,\tpronged\twhip\tready. She\t felt\t her\t tears\t before\t she\t realized\t they\t were\t falling,\t sliding\t through\t six months'\tworth\tof\tfilth. Enough.\tThe\tword\tscreamed\tthrough\ther,\tso\tloudly\tshe\tbegan\tto shake. Silently,\t she\t began\t to\t recite\t the\t names\t of\t her\t dead.\t And\t as\t the\t overseer raised\this\twhip,\tshe\tadded\ther\tname\tto\tthe\tend\tof\tthat\tlist\tand\tswung\ther\tax\tinto his\tgut.","\\\"Any\tchanges\tin\ther\tbehavior?\\\" \\\"She\tgot\tout\tof\tbed.\\\" \\\"And?\\\" Standing\t in\t the\t sunlit\t hall\t of\t the\t upper\t levels\t of\t the\t glass\t castle,\t Ress's usually\tjovial\tface\twas\tgrim.\t\\\"And\tnow\tshe's\tsitting\tin\ta\tchair\tin\tfront\tof\tthe\tfire. It's\t the\t same\t as\t yesterday:\t she\t got\t out\t of\t bed,\t sat\t in\t the\t chair\t all\t day,\t then\t got back\tinto\tbed\tat\tsundown.\\\" \\\"Is\tshe\tstill\tnot\tspeaking?\\\" Ress\tshook\this\thead,\tkeeping\this\tvoice\tlow\tas\ta\tcourtier\tpassed\tby.\t\\\"Philippa says\tshe\tjust\tsits\tthere\tand\tstares\tat\tthe\tfire.\tWon't\tspeak.\tStill\tbarely\ttouches\ther food.\\\"\t Ress's\t eyes\t grew\t warier\t as\t they\t took\t in\t the\t healing\t cuts\t that\t ran\t down Chaol's\t cheek.\t Two\t had\t already\t scabbed\t and\t would\t fade,\t but\t there\t was\t a\t long, surprisingly\tdeep\tone\tthat\twas\tstill\ttender.\tChaol\twondered\tif\tit\twould\tscar.\tHe'd deserve\tit\tif\tit\tdid. \\\"I'm\tprobably\toverstepping\tmy\tbounds--\\\" \\\"Then\t don't\t say\t it,\\\"\t Chaol\t growled.\t He\t knew\t exactly\t what\t Ress\t would\t say: the\tsame\tthing\tPhilippa\tsaid,\tand\tanyone\twho\tsaw\thim\tand\tgave\thim\tthat\tpitying glance.\tYou\tshould\ttry\ttalking\tto\ther. He\t didn't\t know\t how\t word\t had\t gotten\t out\t so\t quickly\t that\t she'd\t tried\t to\t kill him,\tbut\tit\tseemed\tthey\tall\tknew\thow\tdeep\tthe\tbreak\tbetween\thim\tand\tCelaena went.\t He'd\t thought\t the\t two\t of\t them\t had\t been\t discreet,\t and\t he\t knew\t Philippa wasn't\ta\tgossip.\tBut\tperhaps\twhat\the\tfelt\tfor\ther\thad\tbeen\twritten\tall\tover\thim. And\t what\t she\t now\t felt\t for\t him...\t He\t resisted\t the\t urge\t to\t touch\t the\t cuts\t on\t his face. \\\"I\tstill\twant\tthe\twatch\tposted\toutside\ther\tdoor\tand\tthe\twindows,\\\"\the\tordered Ress.\tHe\twas\ton\this\tway\tto\tanother\tmeeting;\tanother\tshouting\tmatch\tabout\thow they\tshould\tdeal\twith\tthe\tfallout\tin\tEyllwe\tover\tthe\tprincess's\tdeath.\t\\\"Don't\tstop her\tif\tshe\tleaves,\tbut\ttry\tto\tslow\ther\tdown\ta\tbit.\\\" Long\t enough\t for\t word\t to\t get\t to\t him\t that\t she'd\t finally\t left\t her\t rooms.\t If","anyone\t were\t going\t to\t intercept\t Celaena,\t if\t anyone\t would\t confront\t her\t about what\t happened\t to\t Nehemia,\t it'd\t be\t him.\t Until\t then,\t he'd\t give\t her\t the\t space\t she needed,\t even\t if\t it\t killed\t him\t not\t to\t speak\t to\t her.\t She'd\t become\t entwined\t in\t his life--from\tthe\tmorning\truns\tto\tthe\tlunches\tto\tthe\tkisses\tshe\tstole\tfrom\thim\twhen no\t one\t was\t looking--and\t now,\t without\t her,\t he\t felt\t hollow.\t But\t he\t still\t didn't know\thow\the'd\tever\tlook\ther\tin\tthe\teye. You\twill\talways\tbe\tmy\tenemy. She'd\tmeant\tit. Ress\tnodded.\t\\\"Consider\tit\tdone.\\\" The\t young\t guard\t saluted\t as\t Chaol\t headed\t for\t the\t meeting\t room.\t There'd\t be other\t meetings\t today--lots\t of\t meetings,\t since\t the\t debate\t was\t still\t raging\t over how\tAdarlan\tshould\treact\tto\tNehemia's\tdeath.\tAnd\tthough\the\thated\tto\tadmit\tit, he\thad\tother\tthings\tto\tworry\tabout\tthan\tCelaena's\tunending\tgrief. The\tking\thad\tsummoned\this\tsouthern\tlords\tand\tretainers\tto\tRifthold. Including\tChaol's\tfather. Dorian\t usually\t didn't\t mind\t Chaol's\t men.\t But\t he\t did\t mind\t being\t followed around,\t day\t and\t night,\t by\t guards\t who\t were\t on\t the\t lookout\t for\t any\t threat. Nehemia's\tdeath\thad\tproved\tthat\tthe\tcastle\twas\tnot\timpregnable.\tHis\tmother\tand Hollin\twere\tsequestered\tin\ther\tchambers,\tand\tmany\tof\tthe\tnobility\thad\teither\tleft the\tcity\tor\twere\tlying\tlow,\ttoo. Except\tRoland.\tThough\tRoland's\tmother\thad\tfled\tback\tto\tMeah\tthe\tmorning after\t the\t princess\t was\t assassinated,\t Roland\t stayed,\t insisting\t that\t Dorian\t would need\this\tsupport\tnow\tmore\tthan\tever.\tAnd\the\twas\tright.\tAt\tthe\tcouncil\tmeetings, which\t grew\t more\t and\t more\t crowded\t as\t the\t southern\t lords\t arrived,\t Roland backed\t every\t point\t and\t objection\t that\t Dorian\t made.\t Together\t they\t argued against\tsending\tmore\ttroops\tinto\tEyllwe\tin\tcase\tof\trevolt,\tand\tRoland\tseconded Dorian's\t proposal\t that\t they\t should\t publicly\t apologize\t to\t Nehemia's\t parents\t for her\tdeath. His\t father\t had\t exploded\t when\t Dorian\t suggested\t that,\t but\t Dorian\t had\t still written\t her\t parents\t a\t message,\t expressing\t his\t deepest\t condolences.\t His\t father could\tgo\tto\thell\tfor\tall\the\tcared. And\tthat\twas\tstarting\tto\tbe\ta\tproblem,\the\trealized\tas\the\tsat\tin\this\ttower\troom and\tflipped\tthrough\tall\tthe\tdocuments\the\thad\tto\tread\tbefore\ttomorrow's\tmeeting with\tthe\tsouthern\tlords.\tHe\thad\tspent\tso\tlong\tbeing\tcareful\tto\tavoid\tdefying\this","father,\tbut\twhat\tsort\tof\tman\tcould\the\tcall\thimself\tif\the\tblindly\tobeyed? A\t smart\t man,\t a\t part\t of\t him\t whispered,\t flickering\t with\t that\t cold,\t ancient power. At\tleast\this\tfour\tguards\tstayed\toutside\this\trooms.\tHis\tprivate\ttower\twas\thigh enough\tthat\tno\tone\tcould\treach\tthe\tbalcony,\tand\tonly\tone\tstair\tled\tup\tand\tdown. Easily\tdefensible.\tBut\talso\tit\tmade\tfor\tan\teasy\tcage. Dorian\t stared\t at\t the\t glass\t pen\t on\t his\t desk.\t The\t night\t Nehemia\t had\t died,\t he hadn't\tintended\tto\tstop\tCelaena's\twrist\tmid-air.\tHe'd\tjust\tknown\tthat\tthe\twoman he\tloved\twas\tabout\tto\tkill\this\toldest\tfriend--\tover\ta\tmisunderstanding.\tHe'd\tbeen too\t far\t away\t to\t grab\t her\t as\t she\t plunged\t the\t blade\t down,\t but\t then\t it\t was\t like\t a phantom\t arm\t reached\t out\t from\t within\t him\t and\t wrapped\t around\t her\t wrist.\t He could\tfeel\ther\tblood-crusted\tskin,\tas\tif\the\thimself\twere\ttouching\ther. But\t he\t hadn't\t known\t what\t he\t was\t doing.\t He'd\t just\t acted\t on\t gut\t feeling\t and desperation\tand\tneed. He\thad\tto\tlearn\tto\tcontrol\tthis\tpower,\twhatever\tit\twas.\tIf\the\tcould\tcontrol\tit, then\the\tcould\tkeep\tit\tfrom\tappearing\tat\tinopportune\ttimes.\tLike\twhen\the\twas\tin those\t damned\t council\t meetings\t and\t his\t temper\t rose,\t and\t he\t felt\t the\t magic stirring\tin\tresponse. Dorian\t took\t a\t deep\t breath,\t focusing\t on\t the\t pen,\t willing\t it\t to\t move.\t He'd stopped\t Celaena\t mid-strike,\t he'd\t thrown\t a\t wall\t of\t books\t into\t the\t air--he\t could move\ta\tpen. It\tdidn't\tmove. After\t staring\t at\t it\t until\t his\t eyes\t nearly\t crossed,\t Dorian\t groaned\t and\t leaned back\tin\this\tchair,\tcovering\this\teyes\twith\this\thands. Maybe\the'd\tgone\tinsane.\tMaybe\the'd\tjust\timagined\tthe\twhole\tthing. Nehemia\t had\t once\t promised\t to\t be\t there\t when\t he\t needed\t help--\t when\t some power\tin\thim\tawoke.\tShe\thad\tknown. Had\ther\tassassin,\tin\tkilling\tNehemia,\talso\tkilled\tany\thope\the\thad\tof\tfinding answers? Celaena\t had\t only\t started\t sitting\t in\t the\t chair\t because\t Philippa\t had\t come\t in yesterday\tand\tcomplained\tabout\tthe\tdirty\tsheets.\tShe\tmight\thave\ttold\tPhilippa\tto go\tto\thell,\tbut\tthen\tshe\tconsidered\twho'd\tlast\tshared\tthis\tbed\twith\ther,\tand\twas suddenly\tglad\tto\thave\tthem\treplaced.\tAny\ttrace\tof\thim,\tshe\twanted\tgone.","As\tthe\tsun\tfinished\tsetting,\tshe\tsat\tbefore\tthe\tfire,\tstaring\tinto\tthe glowing\tembers\tthat\tgrew\tbrighter\tas\tthe\tworld\tdarkened. Time\twas\tshifting\tand\tebbing\taround\ther.\tSome\tdays\thad\tpassed\tin\tan\thour, others\t a\t lifetime.\t She\t had\t bathed\t once,\t long\t enough\t to\t wash\t her\t hair,\t and Philippa\t had\t watched\t the\t whole\t time\t to\t make\t sure\t she\t didn't\t drown\t herself instead. Celaena\t ran\t a\t thumb\t over\t the\t armrest\t of\t the\t chair.\t She\t had\t no\t intention\t of ending\ther\tlife.\tNot\tbefore\tshe\tdid\twhat\tneeded\tto\tbe\tdone. The\t shadows\t in\t the\t room\t grew,\t and\t the\t embers\t seemed\t to\t breathe\t as\t she watched\tthem.\tBreathing\twith\ther,\tpulsing\twith\teach\theartbeat. In\tthese\tdays\tof\tsilence\tand\tsleep,\tshe'd\trealized\tone\tthing:\tthe\tassassin\thad come\tfrom\toutside\tthe\tpalace. Perhaps\t they\t had\t been\t hired\t by\t whoever\t had\t initially\t threatened\t Nehemia's life--perhaps\tnot.\tBut\tthey\tweren't\tassociated\twith\tthe\tking. Celaena\t gripped\t the\t arms\t of\t the\t chair,\t her\t nails\t digging\t into\t the\t polished wood.\tIt\thadn't\tbeen\tone\tof\tArobynn's\tassassins,\teither.\tShe\tknew\this\tstyle,\tand it\t wasn't\t this\t monstrous.\t She\t again\t went\t over\t the\t details\t of\t the\t bedroom,\t now branded\tinto\ther\tmind. She\tdid\tknow\tone\tkiller\tthis\tmonstrous. Grave. She'd\t learned\t as\t much\t about\t him\t as\t she\t could\t when\t she'd\t faced\t him\t in\t the competition\tto\tbecome\tKing's\tChampion.\tShe'd\theard\twhat\the\tdid\tto\tthe\tbodies of\this\tvictims. Her\tlips\tpulled\tback\tfrom\ther\tteeth. Grave\t knew\t the\t palace;\t he'd\t trained\t here\t just\t as\t she\t had.\t And\t he'd\t known, too,\tjust\twhom\the\twas\tmurdering\tand\tdismembering--and\twhat\tit\twould\tmean\tto her. A\t familiar,\t dark\t fire\t rippled\t in\t her\t gut,\t spreading\t through\t her,\t dragging\t her down\tinto\tan\tabyss\twithout\tend. Celaena\tSardothien\tstood\tfrom\ther\tchair.","There\twould\tbe\tno\tcandles\tfor\tthese\tmidnight\tdeeds,\tno\tivory\thorn\tto\tsignal the\t start\t of\t this\t hunt.\t She\t dressed\t in\t her\t darkest\t tunic\t and\t slid\t a\t smooth\t black mask\t into\t her\t cloak\t pocket.\t All\t of\t her\t weapons,\t even\t the\t hairpins,\t had\t been removed\t from\t her\t rooms.\t She\t knew\t without\t checking\t that\t the\t doors\t and windows\twere\tbeing\twatched.\tGood.\tThis\twas\tnot\tthe\tsort\tof\thunt\tthat\tbegan\tat the\tfront\tdoor. Celaena\t locked\t her\t bedroom\t and\t spared\t a\t glance\t at\t Fleetfoot,\t who\t cowered under\t the\t bed\t as\t she\t hauled\t open\t the\t secret\t door.\t The\t dog\t was\t still\t quietly whining\tas\tCelaena\tstrode\tinto\tthe\tpassage. She\tdidn't\tneed\ta\tlight\tto\tmake\ther\tway\tdown\tto\tthe\ttomb.\tShe\tknew\tthe\tpath by\tmemory\tnow,\teach\tstep,\teach\tturn. Her\tcloak\twhispered\tagainst\tthe\tsteps.\tDown\tand\tdown\tshe\twent. It\twas\twar\tupon\tthem\tall.\tLet\tthem\ttremble\tin\tfear\tat\twhat\tthey\thad\tawoken. Moonlight\t spilled\t onto\t the\t landing,\t illuminating\t the\t open\t door\t of\t the\t tomb and\tMort's\tlittle\tbronze\tface. \\\"I'm\t sorry\t about\t your\t friend,\\\"\t he\t said\t with\t surprising\t sorrow\t as\t she\t stalked toward\thim. She\t didn't\t reply.\t And\t she\t didn't\t care\t how\t he\t knew.\t She\t just\t kept\t walking, through\tthe\tdoor\tand\tbetween\tthe\tsarcophagi,\tto\tthe\theap\tof\ttreasure\tpiled\tin\tthe back. Daggers,\t hunting\t knives,\t she\t took\t whatever\t she\t could\t strap\t onto\t her\t belt, tuck\tinto\ther\tboots.\tShe\ttook\ta\thandful\tof\tgold\tand\tjewels\tand\tshoved\tthat\tinto\ta pocket,\ttoo. \\\"What\tare\tyou\tdoing?\\\"\tMort\tdemanded\tfrom\tthe\thallway. Celaena\t approached\t the\t stand\t that\t displayed\t Damaris,\t sword\t of\t Gavin,\t first King\t of\t Adarlan.\t The\t hollowed-out\t golden\t pommel\t glinted\t in\t the\t moonlight\t as she\tpulled\tthe\tscabbard\tfrom\tthe\tstand\tand\tstrapped\tit\tacross\ther\tback. \\\"That\tis\ta\tsacred\tsword,\\\"\tMort\thissed,\tas\tif\the\tcould\tsee\tinside.","Celaena\tsmiled\tgrimly\tas\tshe\tstalked\tback\tto\tthe\tdoor,\tflinging\ther\thood\tover her\thead. \\\"Wherever\t you\t are\t going,\\\"\t Mort\t went\t on,\t \\\"whatever\t you\t plan\t to\t do,\t you debase\t that\t sword\t by\t taking\t it\t from\t here.\t Aren't\t you\t afraid\t of\t angering\t the gods?\\\" Celaena\t just\t laughed\t quietly\t before\t she\t took\t the\t stairs,\t savoring\t each\t step, each\tmovement\tthat\tbrought\ther\tcloser\tto\ther\tprey. She\t relished\t the\t burn\t in\t her\t arms\t as\t she\t hauled\t the\t sewer\t grate\t up,\t rotating the\t ancient\t wheel\t until\t it\t was\t fully\t raised,\t dripping\t with\t filth,\t and\t the\t water beneath\t the\t castle\t flowed\t freely\t into\t the\t small\t river\t outside.\t She\t tossed\t a\t piece of\tbroken\tstone\tinto\tthe\triver\tbeyond\tthe\tarchway,\tlistening\tfor\tguards. Not\ta\tsound,\tnot\ta\tscrape\tof\tarmor\tor\ta\twhisper\tof\twarning. An\t assassin\t had\t killed\t Nehemia,\t an\t assassin\t with\t a\t taste\t for\t the\t grotesque and\ta\tdesire\tfor\tnotoriety.\tFinding\tGrave\twould\ttake\tonly\ta\tfew\tquestions. She\t tied\t the\t chain\t around\t the\t lever,\t testing\t its\t strength,\t and\t checked\t to ensure\t that\t Damaris\t was\t tightly\t strapped\t to\t her\t back.\t Then,\t gripping\t the\t castle stones,\t she\t swung\t around\t the\t wall,\t slithering\t sideways.\t She\t didn't\t bother\t to glance\t up\t at\t the\t castle\t as\t she\t eased\t around\t the\t bank\t of\t the\t river\t and\t dropped onto\tthe\tfrozen\tground. Then\tshe\tvanished\tinto\tthe\tnight. Cloaked\t in\t darkness,\t Celaena\t stalked\t through\t the\t streets\t of\t Rifthold.\t She made\tno\tsound\tas\tshe\tpassed\tthrough\tdim\talleys. Only\tone\tplace\tcould\tprovide\tthe\tanswers\tshe\twanted. Sewage\t and\t puddles\t of\t excrement\t lay\t beneath\t every\t window\t of\t the\t slums, and\tthe\tcobblestone\tstreets\twere\tcracked\tand\tmisshapen\tafter\tmany\thard\twinters. The\t buildings\t leaned\t against\t each\t other,\t some\t so\t ramshackle\t that\t even\t the poorest\t citizens\t had\t abandoned\t them.\t On\t most\t streets,\t the\t taverns\t overflowed with\t drunks\t and\t whores\t and\t everyone\t else\t who\t sought\t some\t temporary\t relief from\ttheir\tmiserable\tlives. It\tmade\tno\tdifference\thow\tmany\tsaw\ther.\tNone\twould\tbother\ther\ttonight. The\tcape\tbillowed\tbehind\ther,\ther\tface\tremaining\texpressionless\tbeneath\ther obsidian\t mask\t as\t she\t moved\t through\t the\t streets.\t The\t Vaults\t was\t just\t a\t few blocks\taway.","Celaena's\t gloved\t hands\t clenched.\t Once\t she\t found\t out\t where\t Grave\t was hiding,\tshe'd\tturn\this\tskin\tinside\tout.\tWorse\tthan\tthat,\tactually. She\tstopped\tbefore\ta\tnondescript\tiron\tdoor\tin\ta\tquiet\talley.\tHired\tthugs\tstood watch\t outside,\t and\t she\t flashed\t them\t the\t silver\t entrance\t fee\t before\t they\t opened the\tdoor\tfor\ther.\tIn\tthe\tsubterranean\twarren\tbelow,\tone\tcould\tfind\tthe\tcutthroats, the\t monsters,\t and\t the\t damned\t of\t Adarlan.\t The\t filth\t came\t here\t to\t exchange stories\tand\tdeals,\tand\tit\twas\there\tthat\tany\twhisper\tof\tNehemia's\tassassin\twould be\tfound. Grave\t had\t undoubtedly\t received\t a\t large\t fee\t for\t his\t services,\t and\t could\t be counted\t on\t to\t now\t be\t recklessly\t spending\t his\t blood\t money--\t which\t would\t not go\tunnoticed.\tHe\twouldn't\thave\tleft\tRifthold--oh,\tno.\tHe\twanted\tpeople\tto\tknow he\t killed\t the\t princess;\t he\t wanted\t to\t hear\t himself\t named\t as\t the\t new\t Adarlan's Assassin.\tHe\twanted\tCelaena\tto\tknow,\ttoo. As\t she\t strode\t down\t the\t steps\t into\t the\t Vaults,\t the\t reek\t of\t ale\t and\t unwashed bodies\thit\ther\tlike\ta\tstone\tto\tthe\tface.\tShe\thadn't\tbeen\tin\tthis\tsort\tof\tfestering\tden for\ta\tlong\twhile. The\tmain\tchamber\twas\tstrategically\tlit:\ta\tchandelier\thung\tin\tthe\tcenter\tof\tthe room,\tbut\tthere\twas\tlittle\tlight\tto\tbe\tfound\talong\tthe\twalls\tfor\tthose\twho\tsought not\tto\tbe\tseen.\tAll\tlaughter\thalted\tas\tshe\tstrode\tbetween\tthe\ttables,\tall\tlaughter halted.\tRed-rimmed\teyes\tfollowed\ther\tevery\tstep. She\tdidn't\tknow\tthe\tidentity\tof\tthe\tnew\tcrime\tlord\twho\truled\tover\tthis\tplace- -didn't\t care.\t Her\t business\t wasn't\t with\t him,\t not\t tonight.\t She\t didn't\t allow\t herself to\t look\t at\t the\t many\t fighting\t pits\t that\t occupied\t the\t distant\t end\t of\t the\t chamber-- the\tpits\twhere\tcrowds\twere\tstill\tgathered,\tcheering\tfor\twhoever\tfought\twith\tfists and\tflesh\twithin. She'd\t been\t to\t the\t Vaults\t before,\t many\t times\t in\t those\t final\t days\t before\t her capture.\tNow\tthat\tIoan\tJayne\tand\tRourke\tFarran\twere\tdead,\tthe\tplace\tseemed\tto have\tpassed\tinto\tnew\townership\twithout\tlosing\tany\tof\tits\tdepravity. Celaena\t walked\t right\t up\t to\t the\t barkeep.\t He\t didn't\t recognize\t her,\t but\t she didn't\texpect\thim\tto--not\twhen\tshe'd\tbeen\tso\tcareful\tto\thide\ther\tidentity\tall\tthose years. The\t barkeep\t was\t already\t pale,\t and\t his\t sparse\t hair\t had\t become\t even\t sparser over\tthe\tpast\tyear\tand\ta\thalf.\tHe\ttried\tto\tpeer\tbeneath\tthe\tcowl\tas\tshe\thalted\tat the\tbar,\tbut\tthe\tmask\tand\thood\tkept\ther\tfeatures\thidden. \\\"Drink?\\\"\the\tasked,\twiping\tsweat\tfrom\this\tbrow.\tEveryone\tin\tthe\tbar\twas\tstill","watching\ther,\teither\tdiscreetly\tor\toutright. \\\"No,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\ther\tvoice\tcontorted\tand\tdeep\tbeneath\tthe\tmask. The\t barkeep\t gripped\t the\t edge\t of\t the\t counter.\t \\\"You--you're\t back,\\\"\t he\t said quietly,\tas\tmore\theads\tturned.\t\\\"You\tescaped.\\\" So\the\tdid\trecognize\ther,\tthen.\tShe\twondered\tif\tthe\tnew\towners\theld\ta\tgrudge for\ther\tkilling\tIoan\tJayne--and\thow\tmany\tbodies\tshe'd\thave\tto\tleave\tin\ther\twake if\t they\t decided\t to\t start\t a\t fight\t right\t here,\t right\t now.\t What\t she\t planned\t to\t do tonight\talready\tbroke\tenough\trules,\tcrossed\ttoo\tmany\tlines. She\t leaned\t on\t the\t bar,\t crossing\t one\t ankle\t over\t the\t other.\t The\t barkeep mopped\this\tbrow\tagain\tand\tpoured\ther\ta\tbrandy.\t\\\"On\tthe\thouse,\\\"\the\tsaid,\tsliding it\tto\ther.\tShe\tcaught\tit\tin\ther\thand,\tbut\tdidn't\tdrink\tit.\tHe\twet\this\tlips,\tthen\tasked: \\\"How--how\t did\t you\t escape?\\\"\t People\t leaned\t back\t in\t their\t chairs,\t straining\t to hear.\t Let\t them\t spread\t rumors.\t Let\t them\t hesitate\t before\t crossing\t her\t path.\t She hoped\t Arobynn\t heard,\t too.\t She\t hoped\t he\t heard\t and\t stayed\t the\t hell\t away\t from her. \\\"You'll\tsoon\tdiscover\tthat,\\\"\tshe\tsaid.\t\\\"But\tI\thave\tneed\tof\tyou.\\\" His\tbrows\tlifted.\t\\\"Me?\\\" \\\"I\thave\tcome\tto\tinquire\tafter\ta\tman.\\\"\tHer\tvoice\twas\tscratchy\tand\thollow.\t\\\"A man\t who\t recently\t earned\t a\t large\t sum\t of\t gold.\t For\t the\t assassination\t of\t the Eyllwe\tprincess.\tHe\tgoes\tby\tthe\tname\tof\tGrave.\tI\tneed\tto\tknow\twhere\the\tis.\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tknow\tanything.\\\"\tThe\tbarkeep's\tface\tturned\teven\tpaler. She\treached\tinto\ta\tpocket\tand\tpulled\tout\ta\tglittering\tfistful\tof\tancient\tjewels and\tgold.\tAll\teyes\twatched\tthem\tnow. \\\"Allow\tme\tto\trepeat\tmy\tquestion,\tbarkeep.\\\" The\tassassin\twho\tcalled\thimself\tGrave\tran. He\t didn't\t know\t how\t long\t she'd\t been\t hunting\t him.\t It\t had\t been\t well\t over\t a week\t since\t he'd\t killed\t the\t princess--a\t week,\t and\t no\t one\t had\t even\t looked\t his way.\tHe\tthought\the'd\tgotten\taway\twith\tit--and\thad\teven\tstarted\twondering\tif\the should\t have\t been\t more\t creative\t with\t the\t body,\t if\t he\t should\t have\t left\t some\t sort of\tcalling\tcard\tbehind.\tBut\tall\tthat\tchanged\ttonight. He'd\t been\t drinking\t at\t the\t counter\t of\t his\t favorite\t tavern\t when\t the\t packed room\t had\t suddenly\t gone\t quiet.\t He'd\t turned\t to\t see\t her\t in\t the\t doorway\t as\t she called\t out\t his\t name,\t looking\t more\t wraith\t than\t human.\t His\t name\t hadn't\t even","finished\t echoing\t in\t the\t room\t before\t he\t burst\t into\t a\t sprint,\t escaping\t through\t the back\t exit\t and\t into\t the\t alley.\t He\t couldn't\t hear\t footsteps,\t but\t he\t knew\t she\t was behind\thim,\tmelting\tin\tand\tout\tof\tshadows\tand\tmist. He\t took\t alleys\t and\t side\t streets,\t leaping\t over\t walls,\t zigzagging\t across\t the slums.\tAnything\tto\tshake\ther,\tto\twear\ther\tdown.\tHe'd\tmake\this\tfinal\tstand\tin\ta quiet\t street.\t There,\t he\t would\t take\t out\t the\t blades\t strapped\t to\t his\t skin\t and\t make her\t pay\t for\t how\t she'd\t humiliated\t him\t in\t the\t competition.\t The\t way\t she\t had sneered\tat\thim,\tthe\tway\tshe'd\tbroken\this\tnose\tand\ttossed\ther\thandkerchief\tonto his\tchest. Haughty,\tstupid\tbitch. He\tstaggered\tas\the\trounded\ta\tcorner,\this\tbreath\tragged\tand\traw.\tHe\tonly\thad three\t daggers\t hidden\t on\t him.\t He'd\t make\t them\t count,\t though.\t When\t she'd appeared\tat\tthe\ttavern,\the'd\timmediately\ttaken\tnote\tof\tthe\tbroadsword\thovering over\t one\t of\t her\t shoulders\t and\t the\t assortment\t of\t gleaming,\t wicked-looking blades\tstrapped\tto\ther\thips.\tBut\the\tcould\tmake\ther\tpay,\teven\tif\the\tonly\thad\tthree blades. Grave\t was\t halfway\t down\t the\t cobblestone\t alley\t when\t he\t realized\t it\t was\t a dead\tend,\tthe\tfar\twall\ttoo\thigh\tto\tclimb.\tHere,\tthen.\tHere,\the'd\thave\ther\tbegging for\tmercy\tbefore\the\tcut\ther\tinto\tlittle,\tlittle\tpieces.\tDrawing\tone\tof\this\tdaggers, he\tsmiled\tturned\tto\tthe\topen\tstreet\tbehind\thim. Blue\tmist\tdrifted\tby,\tand\ta\trat\tscurried\tacross\tthe\tnarrow\tpassage.\tThere\twas no\tnoise,\tonly\tthe\tsounds\tof\tdistant\trevelry.\tPerhaps\the\thad\tlost\ther.\tThose\troyal fools\t had\t made\t the\t biggest\t mistake\t of\t their\t lives\t when\t they\t crowned\t her Champion.\tHis\tclient\thad\tsaid\tas\tmuch\twhen he'd\thired\tGrave. Grave\t waited\t a\t moment,\t still\t watching\t the\t open\t street\t entrance,\t and\t then allowed\thimself\tto\tbreathe,\tsurprised\tto\tfind\tthat\the\twas\ta\tlittle\tdisappointed. King's\tChampion\tindeed.\tIt\thadn't\tbeen\thard\tto\tlose\ther\tat\tall.\tAnd\tnow\the'd go\t home,\t and\t he'd\t receive\t another\t job\t offer\t in\t a\t matter\t of\t days.\t And\t then another.\t And\t another.\t His\t client\t had\t promised\t him\t that\t the\t offers\t would\t come. Arobynn\t Hamel\t would\t curse\t the\t day\t he'd\t rejected\t Grave\t from\t the\t Assassin's Guild\tfor\tbeing\ttoo\tcruel\twith\this\tprey. Grave\tchuckled,\tflipping\this\tdagger\tin\this\thands.\tThen\tshe\tappeared. She\tcame\tthrough\tthe\tfog,\tno\tmore\tthan\ta\tsliver\tof\tdarkness.\tShe\tdidn't\trun--","she\t just\t walked\t with\t that\t insufferable\t swagger.\t Grave\t surveyed\t the\t buildings surrounding\tthem.\tThe\tstone\twas\ttoo\tslippery\tand\tthere\twere\tno\twindows. One\t step\t at\t a\t time,\t she\t approached.\t He'd\t really,\t really\t enjoy\t making\t her suffer\tas\tmuch\tas\tthe\tprincess\thad. Smiling,\t Grave\t retreated\t into\t the\t end\t of\t the\t alley,\t only\t stopping\t when\t his back\thit\tthe\tstone\twall.\tIn\ta\tnarrower\tspace\the\tcould\toverpower\ther.\tAnd\tin\tthis forgotten\tstreet,\the\tcould\ttake\this\town\tsweet\ttime\tin\tdoing\twhat\the\twanted. She\t still\t approached,\t and\t the\t sword\t at\t her\t back\t whined\t as\t she\t drew\t it.\t The moonlight\tglinted\toff\tthe\tlong\tblade.\tProbably\ta\tgift\tfrom\ther\tprinceling\tlover. Grave\tpulled\this\tsecond\tdagger\tfrom\this\tboot.\tThis\twasn't\ta\tfrilly,\tridiculous competition\trun\tby\tnobility.\tHere,\tany\trules\tapplied. She\tdidn't\tsay\tanything\twhen\tshe\tneared. And\t Grave\t didn't\t say\t anything\t to\t her\t as\t he\t rushed\t at\t her,\t swiping\t for\t her head\twith\tboth\tblades. She\t stepped\t aside,\t dodging\t him\t with\t maddening\t ease.\t Grave\t lunged\t again. But,\t faster\t than\t he\t could\t follow,\t she\t ducked\t and\t slashed\t her\t sword\t across\t his shins. He\t hit\t the\t wet\t ground\t before\t he\t felt\t the\t pain.\t Then\t the\t world\t flashed\t black and\t grey\t and\t red,\t and\t agony\t tore\t at\t him.\t A\t dagger\t still\t left\t in\t his\t hand,\t he scuttled\tbackward,\ttoward\tthe\twall.\tBut\this\tlegs\twouldn't\trespond,\tand\this\tarms strained\tas\tthey\tpulled\thim\tthrough\tthe\tdamp\tfilth. \\\"Bitch,\\\"\t he\t hissed.\t \\\"Bitch.\\\"\t He\t hit\t the\t wall,\t blood\t pouring\t from\t his\t legs. Bone\thad\tbeen\tsliced.\tHe\twould\tnot\tbe\table\tto\twalk.\tHe\tcould\tstill\tfind\ta\tway\tto make\ther\tpay,\tthough. She\t stopped\t a\t few\t feet\t away\t and\t sheathed\t her\t sword.\t She\t drew\t a\t long, jeweled\tdagger. He\tswore\tat\ther,\tthe\tfilthiest\tword\the\tcould\tthink\tof. She\tchuckled,\tand\tfaster\tthan\ta\tstriking\tasp,\tshe\thad\tone\tof\this\tarms\tagainst the\twall,\tthe\tdagger\tglinting. Pain\tripped\tthrough\this\tright\twrist--then\tthe\tleft\tas\tit,\ttoo,\twas\tslammed\tinto the\t stone.\t Grave\t screamed--truly\t screamed--as\t he\t found\t his\t arms\t pinned\t to\t the wall\tby\ttwo\tdaggers. His\tblood\twas\tnearly\tblack\tin\tthe\tmoonlight.\tHe\tthrashed,\tcursing\ther\tagain","and\tagain.\tHe\twould\tbleed\tto\tdeath\tunless\the\tpulled\this\tarms\tfrom\tthe\twall. With\t otherworldly\t silence,\t she\t crouched\t before\t him\t and\t lifted\t his\t chin\t with another\t dagger.\t Grave\t panted\t as\t she\t brought\t her\t face\t close\t to\t his.\t There\t was nothing\tbeneath\tthe\tcowl--nothing\tof\tthis\tworld.\tShe\thad\tno\tface. \\\"Who\thired\tyou?\\\"\tshe\tasked,\ther\tvoice\tlike\tgravel. \\\"To\t do\t what?\\\"\t he\t asked,\t almost\t sobbing.\t Maybe\t he\t could\t feign\t innocence. He\t could\t talk\t his\t way\t out,\t convince\t this\t arrogant\t whore\t he\t had\t nothing\t to\t do with\tit, She\tturned\tthe\tdagger,\tpressing\tit\tinto\this\tneck.\t\\\"To\tkill\tPrincess\tNehemia.\\\" \\\"N-n-no\tone.\tI\tdon't\tknow\twhat\tyou're\ttalking\tabout.\\\" And\t then,\t without\t even\t an\t intake\t of\t breath,\t she\t buried\t a\t second\t dagger\t he hadn't\t realized\t she'd\t been\t holding\t into\t his\t thigh.\t So\t deep\t he\t felt\t the reverberation\tas\tit\thit\tthe\tcobblestones\tbeneath.\tHis\tscream\tshattered\tout\tof\thim, and\tGrave\twrithed,\this\twrists\trising\tfurther\ton\tthe\tblade. \\\"Who\thired\tyou?\\\"\tshe\tasked\tagain.\tCalm,\tso\tcalm. \\\"Gold,\\\"\tGrave\tmoaned.\t\\\"I\thave\tgold.\\\" She\tdrew\tyet\tanother\tdagger\tand\tshoved\tit\tinto\this\tother\tthigh,\tpiercing\tagain to\tthe\tstone.\tGrave\tshrieked--shrieked\tto\tgods\twho\tdid\tnot\tsave\thim.\t\\\"Who\thired you?\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tknow\twhat\tyou're\ttalking\tabout!\\\" After\ta\theartbeat,\tshe\twithdrew\tthe\tdaggers\tfrom\this\tthighs.\tHe\talmost\tsoiled himself\tat\tthe\tpain,\tat\tthe\trelief. \\\"Thank\t you,\\\"\t he\t wept,\t even\t as\t he\t thought\t of\t how\t he'd\t punish\t her.\t She\t sat back\ton\ther\theels\tand\tstared\tat\thim.\t\\\"Thank\tyou.\\\" But\t then\t she\t brought\t up\t another\t dagger,\t its\t edge\t serrated\t and\t glinting,\t and hovered\tit\tclose\tto\this\thand. \\\"Pick\ta\tfinger,\\\"\tshe\tsaid.\tHe\ttrembled\tand\tshook\this\thead.\t\\\"Pick\ta\tfinger.\\\" \\\"P-please.\\\"\tA\twet\twarmth\tfilled\tthe\tseat\tof\this\tpants. \\\"Thumb\tit\tis.\\\" \\\"N-no.\tI.\tI'll\ttell\tyou\teverything!\\\"\tStill,\tshe\tbrought\tthe\tblade\tcloser,\tuntil\tit rested\tagainst\tthe\tbase\tof\this\tthumb.\t\\\"Don't!\tI'll\ttell\tyou\teverything!\\\"","Dorian\twas\tjust\tstarting\tto\tfeel\this\ttemper\tfray\tafter\thours\tof\tdebate\twhen\tthe doors\tto\this\tfather's\tcouncil\troom\twere\tthrown\topen\tand\tCelaena\tprowled\tin,\ther dark\tcape\tbillowing\tbehind\ther.\tAll\ttwenty\tmen\tat\tthe\ttable\tfell\tsilent,\tincluding his\t father,\t whose\t eyes\t went\t straight\t to\t the\t thing\t dangling\t from\t Celaena's\t hand. Chaol\t was\t already\t striding\t across\t the\t room\t from\t his\t post\t by\t the\t door.\t But\t he, too,\tstopped\twhen\the\tbeheld\tthe\tobject\tshe\tcarried. A\thead. The\t man's\t face\t was\t still\t set\t in\t a\t scream,\t and\t there\t was\t something\t vaguely familiar\t about\t the\t grotesque\t features\t and\t mousy\t brown\t hair\t that\t she\t gripped.\t It was\thard\tto\ttell\twhen\tit\twas\tswinging\tfrom\ther\tgloved\tfingers. Chaol\tput\ta\thand\ton\this\tsword,\this\tface\tpale\tas\tdeath.\tThe\tother\tguards\tin\tthe room\tdrew\ttheir\tblades,\tbut\tdidn't\tmove--wouldn't\tmove,\tuntil\tChaol\tor\tthe\tking commanded\tthem. \\\"What\t is\t this?\\\"\t his\t father\t demanded.\t The\t councilmen\t and\t assembled\t lords were\tgaping. But\tshe\twas\tsmiling\tas\ther\teyes\tlocked\tonto\tone\tof\tthe\tministers\tat\tthe\ttable, and\tshe\twalked\tright\ttoward\thim. And\t no\t one,\t not\t even\t Dorian's\t father,\t said\t anything\t as\t she\t set\t the\t severed head\tatop\tthe\tminister's\tstack\tof\tpapers. \\\"I\t believe\t this\t belongs\t to\t you,\\\"\t she\t said,\t releasing\t her\t grip\t on\t the\t hair.\t The head\t lolled\t to\t the\t side\t with\t a\t thud.\t Then\t she\t patted--patted--\t the\t minister's shoulder\tbefore\trounding\tthe\ttable\tand\tplopping\tinto\tan\tempty\tchair\tat\tone\tend, sprawling\tacross\tit. \\\"Explain\tyourself,\\\"\tthe\tking\tgrowled\tat\ther. She\tcrossed\ther\tarms,\tsmiling\tat\tthe\tminister,\twhose\tface\thad\tturned\tgreen\tas he\tstared\tat\tthe\thead\tbefore\thim. \\\"I\t had\t a\t little\t chat\t with\t Grave\t about\t Princess\t Nehemia\t last\t night,\\\"\t she\t said. Grave--the\t assassin\t from\t the\t competition--and\t Minister\t Mullison's\t champion. \\\"He\tsends\this\tregards,\tminister.\tHe\talso\tsends\tthis--\\\"\tShe\ttossed\tsomething\tonto","the\t long\t table.\t A\t small\t golden\t bracelet,\t engraved\t with\t lotus\t blossoms. Something\t Nehemia\t would\t have\t worn.\t \\\"Here's\t a\t lesson\t for\t you,\t minister,\t from one\t professional\t to\t another:\t cover\t your\t tracks.\t And\t hire\t assassins\t without personal\t connections\t to\t you.\t And\t perhaps\t try\t not\t to\t do\t it\t so\t soon\t after\t you've publicly\targued\twith\tyour\ttarget.\\\" Mullison\t was\t looking\t at\t the\t king\t with\t pleading\t eyes.\t \\\"I\t didn't\t do\t this.\\\"\t He recoiled\t from\t the\t head.\t \\\"I\t have\t no\t idea\t what\t she's\t talking\t about.\t I'd\t never\t do something\tlike\tthis.\\\" \\\"That's\t not\t what\t Grave\t said,\\\"\t Celaena\t crooned.\t Dorian\t could\t only\t stare\t at her.\tThis\twas\tdifferent\tfrom\tthe\tferal\tcreature\tshe'd\tbecome\tthat\tnight\tNehemia had\tdied.\tWhat\tshe\twas\tright\tnow,\tthe\tedge\tshe\twas\tbalancing.\tWyrd\thelp\tthem all. But\t then\t Chaol\t was\t at\t her\t chair,\t grasping\t her\t elbow.\t \\\"What\t the\t hell\t do\t you think\tyou're\tdoing?\\\" Celaena\t looked\t up\t at\t him\t and\t smiled\t sweetly.\t \\\"Your\t job,\t apparently.\\\"\t She shook\t off\t his\t grip\t with\t a\t thrash,\t then\t got\t out\t of\t her\t seat,\t stalking\t around\t the table.\t She\t pulled\t a\t piece\t of\t paper\t out\t of\t her\t tunic\t and\t tossed\t it\t in\t front\t of\t the king.\t The\t impertinence\t in\t that\t throw\t should\t have\t earned\t her\t a\t trip\t to\t the gallows,\tbut\tthe\tking\tsaid\tnothing. Following\ther\taround\tthe\ttable,\ta\thand\tstill\ton\this\tsword,\tChaol\twatched\ther with\t a\t face\t like\t stone.\t Dorian\t began\t praying\t they\t wouldn't\t come\t to\t blows--not here,\t not\t again.\t If\t it\t riled\t his\t magic\t and\t his\t father\t saw.\t Dorian\t wouldn't\t even think\tof\tthat\tpower\twhen\the\twas\tin\tthe\troom\twith\tso\tmany\tpotential\tenemies.\tHe was\tsitting\tbeside\tthe\tperson\twho'd\tgive\tthe\torder\tto\thave\thim\tput\tdown. His\tfather\ttook\tthe\tpaper.\tFrom\twhere\the\tsat,\tDorian\tcould\tsee\tthat\tit\twas\ta list\tof\tnames,\tat\tleast\tfifteen\tlong. \\\"Before\t the\t unfortunate\t death\t of\t the\t princess,\\\"\t she\t said,\t \\\"I\t took\t it\t upon myself\tto\teliminate\tsome\ttraitors\tto\tthe\tcrown.\tMy\ttarget,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\tand\the\tknew his\tfather\twas\taware\tshe\tmeant\tArcher,\t\\\"led\tme\tright\tto\tthem.\\\" Dorian\tcouldn't\tlook\tat\ther\tfor\ta\tmoment\tlonger.\tThis\tcouldn't\tbe\tthe\twhole truth.\t But\t she\t hadn't\t gone\t after\t them\t to\t hunt\t them\t down,\t she'd\t gone\t to\t save Chaol.\t So\t why\t lie\t now?\t Why\t pretend\t she'd\t been\t hunting\t them?\t What\t sort\t of game\twas\tshe\tplaying? Dorian\t looked\t across\t the\t table.\t Minister\t Mullison\t was\t still\t trembling\t at\t the severed\t head\t in\t front\t of\t him.\t He\t wouldn't\t have\t been\t surprised\t if\t the\t minister","vomited\tright\tthere.\tHe\twas\tthe\tone\twho\thad\tmade\tthe\tanonymous\tthreat\tagainst Nehemia's\tlife? After\t a\t moment,\t his\t father\t looked\t up\t from\t the\t list\t and\t surveyed\t her.\t \\\"Well done,\tChampion.\tWell\tdone\tindeed.\\\" Then\t Celaena\t and\t the\t King\t of\t Adarlan\t smiled\t at\t each\t other,\t and\t it\t was\t the most\tterrifying\tthing\tDorian\thad\tever\tseen. \\\"Tell\tmy\texchequer\tto\tgive\tyou\tdouble\tlast\tmonth's\tpayment,\\\"\tthe\tking\tsaid. Dorian\t felt\t his\t gorge\t rise--not\t just\t for\t the\t severed\t head\t and\t her\t blood-stiffened clothing,\tbut\talso\tfor\tthe\tfact\tthat\the\tcould\tnot,\tfor\tthe\tlife\tof\thim,\tfind\tthat\tgirl he'd\t loved\t anywhere\t in\t her\t face.\t And\t from\t Chaol's\t expression,\t he\t knew\t his friend\tfelt\tthe\tsame. Celaena\tbowed\tdramatically\tto\tthe\tking,\tflourishing\ta\thand\tbefore\ther.\tThen, with\ta\tsmile\tdevoid\tof\tany\twarmth,\tshe\tstared\tdown\tChaol\tbefore\tstalking\tfrom the\troom,\ther\tdark\tcape\tsweeping\tbehind\ther. Silence. And\t then\t Dorian's\t attention\t returned\t to\t Minister\t Mullison,\t who\t merely whispered,\t \\\"Please,\\\"\t before\t the\t king\t ordered\t Chaol\t to\t have\t him\t dragged\t to\t the dungeons. Celaena\t wasn't\t done--not\t nearly.\t Perhaps\t the\t bloodletting\t was\t over,\t but\t she still\thad\tanother\tperson\tto\tvisit\tbefore\tshe\tcould\treturn\tto\ther\tbedroom\tand\twash off\tthe\tstink\tof\tGrave's\tblood. Archer\t was\t resting\t when\t she\t arrived\t at\t his\t townhouse,\t and\t his\t butler\t didn't dare\tstop\ther\tas\tshe\tstrode\tup\tthe\tcarpeted\tfront\tsteps,\tstormed\tdown\tthe\telegant wood-paneled\thallway,\tand\tflung\topen\tthe\tdouble\tdoors\tto\twhat\tcould\tonly\thave been\this\troom. Archer\t jolted\t in\t bed,\t wincing\t as\t he\t put\t a\t hand\t to\t his\t bandaged\t shoulder. Then\the\ttook\tin\ther\tappearance,\tthe\tdaggers\tstill\tstrapped\tto\ther\twaist.\tHe\twent very,\tvery\tstill. \\\"I'm\tsorry,\\\"\the\tsaid. She\t stood\t at\t the\t foot\t of\t his\t bed,\t staring\t down\t at\t him,\t at\t his\t wan\t face\t and injured\t shoulder.\t \\\"You're\t sorry,\t Chaol's\t sorry,\t the\t whole\t damn\t world\t is\t sorry. Tell\t me\t what\t you\t and\t your\t movement\t want.\t Tell\t me\t what\t you\t know\t about\t the king's\tplans.\\\"","\\\"I\tdidn't\twant\tto\tlie\tto\tyou,\\\"\tArcher\tsaid\tgently.\t\\\"But\tI\tneeded\tto\tknow\tthat\tI could\t trust\t you\t before\t I\t told\t you\t the\t truth.\t Nehemia,\\\"\t she\t tried\t not\t to\t wince\t at the\t name,\t \\\"said\t you\t could\t be\t trusted,\t but\t I\t needed\t to\t know\t for\t sure.\t And\t I needed\tyou\tto\ttrust\tme,\ttoo.\\\" \\\"So\tyou\tthought\tkidnapping\tChaol\twould\tmake\tme\ttrust\tyou?\\\" \\\"We\t kidnapped\t him\t because\t we\t thought\t he\t and\t the\t king\t were\t planning\t to hurt\t her.\t I\t needed\t you\t to\t come\t to\t that\t warehouse\t and\t hear\t from\t Westfall's\t lips that\t he\t was\t aware\t there\t had\t been\t threats\t to\t her\t safety\t and\t he\t didn't\t tell\t you,\t to realize\t that\t he\t is\t the\t enemy.\t If\t I'd\t known\t you'd\t go\t so\t berserk,\t I\t never\t would have\tdone\tit.\\\" She\t shook\t her\t head.\t \\\"That\t list\t you\t sent\t me\t yesterday--of\t the\t men\t from\t the warehouse--they're\ttruly\tdead?\\\" \\\"You\tkilled\tthem,\tyes.\\\" Guilt\t punched\t through\t her.\t \\\"For\t my\t part,\t I\t am\t sorry.\\\"\t And\t she\t was.\t She'd memorized\ttheir\tnames,\ttried\tto\trecall\ttheir\tfaces.\tShe'd\tcarry\tthe\tweight\tof\ttheir deaths\t forever.\t Even\t Grave's\t death,\t what\t she'd\t done\t to\t him\t in\t that\t alley.\t she'd never\tforget\tthat,\teither.\t\\\"I\tgave\ttheir\tnames\tto\tthe\tking.\tIt\tshould\tkeep\thim\tfrom looking\tin\tyour\tdirection\tfor\tjust\ta\tlittle\twhile\tlonger--five\tdays\tat\tmost.\\\" Archer\tnodded,\tsinking\tback\tinto\tthe\tpillows. \\\"Nehemia\treally\tworked\twith\tyou?\\\" \\\"It\t was\t why\t she\t came\t to\t Rifthold--to\t see\t what\t could\t be\t done\t about organizing\ta\tforce\tin\tthe\tnorth.\tTo\tgive\tus\tinformation\tdirectly\tfrom\tthe\tcastle.\\\" As\t Celaena\t had\t always\t suspected.\t \\\"Her\t loss.\\\"\t He\t closed\t his\t eyes.\t \\\"We\t can't replace\ther.\\\" Celaena\tswallowed. \\\"But\t you\t could,\\\"\t Archer\t said,\t looking\t at\t her\t again.\t \\\"I\t know\t you\t came\t from Terrasen.\tSo\tpart\tof\tyou\thas\tto\trealize\tthat\tTerrasen\tmust\tbe\tfree.\\\" You\tare\tnothing\tmore\tthan\ta\tcoward. She\tkept\ther\tface\tblank. \\\"Be\t our\t eyes\t and\t ears\t in\t the\t castle,\\\"\t Archer\t whispered.\t \\\"Help\t us.\t Help\t us, and\twe\tcan\tfind\ta\tway\tto\tsave\teveryone--save\tyou.\tWe\tdon't\tknow\twhat\tthe\tking plans\t to\t do--just\t that\t he\t somehow\t found\t a\t source\t of\t power\t outside\t magic,\t and that\t he's\t probably\t using\t that\t power\t to\t create\t monstrosities\t of\t his\t own.\t But\t to","what\t end,\t we\t don't\t know.\t That's\t what\t Nehemia\t was\t trying\t to\t discover--and\t it's knowledge\tthat\tcould\tsave\tus\tall.\\\" She'd\t digest\t that\t all\t later--much\t later.\t For\t now,\t she\t stared\t at\t Archer,\t then looked\t down\t at\t her\t blood-stiffened\t clothing.\t \\\"I\t found\t the\t man\t who\t killed Nehemia.\\\" Archer's\teyes\twidened,\tflickering.\t\\\"And?\\\" She\t turned,\t walking\t out\t of\t the\t room.\t \\\"And\t the\t debt\t has\t been\t paid.\t Minister Mullison\thired\thim\tto\tget\trid\tof\ta\tthorn\tin\this\tside--\tbecause\tshe\tput\thim\tdown one\t too\t many\t times\t in\t council\t meetings.\t The\t minister\t is\t now\t in\t the\t dungeons, awaiting\this\ttrial.\\\" And\tshe'd\tbe\tthere\tfor\tevery\tminute\tof\tthat\ttrial,\tand\tthe\texecution\tafterward. Archer\tloosed\ta\tsigh\tas\tshe\tput\ther\thand\ton\tthe\tdoorknob. She\t looked\t over\t her\t shoulder\t at\t him,\t at\t the\t fear\t and\t sadness\t on\t his\t face. \\\"You\ttook\tan\tarrow\tfor\tme,\\\"\tshe\tsaid\tquietly,\tgazing\tat\tthe\tbandages. \\\"It\twas\tthe\tleast\tI\tcould\tdo\tafter\tI\tcaused\tthat\twhole\tmess.\\\" She\t chewed\t on\t her\t lip\t and\t opened\t the\t door.\t \\\"We\t have\t five\t days\t until\t the king\texpects\tyou\tto\tbe\tdead.\tPrepare\tyourself\tand\tyour\tallies.\\\"\t\\\"But--\\\" \\\"But\t nothing,\\\"\t she\t interrupted.\t \\\"Consider\t yourself\t fortunate\t that\t I'm\t not going\t to\t rip\t out\t your\t throat\t for\t the\t stunt\t you\t pulled.\t Arrow\t or\t no\t arrow,\t and regardless\t of\t my\t relationship\t with\t Chaol,\t you\t lied\t to\t me.\t And\t kidnapped\t my friend.\t If\t it\t hadn't\t been\t for\t that--for\t you--I\t would\t have\t been\t at\t the\t castle\t that night.\\\"\t She\t fixed\t him\t with\t a\t stare.\t \\\"I'm\t done\t with\t you.\t I\t don't\t want\t your information,\tI'm\tnot\tgoing\tto\tgive\tyou\tinformation,\tand\tI\tdon't\tparticularly\tcare what\thappens\tto\tyou\tonce\tyou\tleave\tthis\tcity,\tas\tlong\tas\tI\tnever\tsee\tyou\tagain.\\\" She\ttook\ta\tstep\tinto\tthe\thallway. \\\"Celaena?\\\" She\tlooked\tover\ther\tshoulder. \\\"I\tam\tsorry.\tI\tknow\thow\tmuch\tyou\tmeant\tto\ther--and\tshe\tto\tyou.\\\" The\tweight\tshe'd\tbeen\tavoiding\tsince\tshe'd\tgone\tto\thunt\tGrave\tsuddenly\tfell on\ther,\tand\ther\tshoulders\tdrooped.\tShe\twas\tso\ttired.\tNow\tthat\tGrave\twas\tdead, now\tthat\tMinister\tMullison\twas\tin\tthe\tdungeon,\tnow\tthat\tshe\thad\tno\tone\tleft\tto maim\tand\tpunish.\tShe\twas\tso,\tso\ttired.","\\\"Five\tdays--I'll\tbe\tback\tin\tfive\tdays.\tIf\tyou\taren't\tprepared\tto\tleave\tRifthold, then\t I\t won't\t bother\t faking\t your\t death.\t I'll\t kill\t you\t before\t you\t know\t I'm\t in\t the room.\\\" Chaol\t kept\t his\t face\t blank\t and\t his\t shoulders\t thrown\t back\t as\t his\t father surveyed\t him.\t The\t small\t breakfast\t room\t in\t his\t father's\t suite\t was\t sunny\t and silent,\t pleasant,\t even,\t but\t Chaol\t remained\t in\t the\t doorway\t as\t he\t looked\t at\t his father\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tin\tten\tyears. The\t Lord\t of\t Anielle\t looked\t mostly\t the\t same,\t his\t hair\t a\t bit\t grayer,\t but\t his face\tstill\truggedly\thandsome,\tfar\ttoo\tsimilar\tto\tChaol's\tfor\this\town\tliking. \\\"The\tbreakfast\tis\tgrowing\tcold,\\\"\this\tfather\tsaid,\twaving\ta\tbroad\thand\tto\tthe table\tand\tthe\tempty\tchair\tacross\tfrom\thim.\tHis\tfirst\twords. Chaol\t clenched\t his\t jaw\t so\t hard\t it\t hurt\t as\t he\t walked\t across\t the\t bright\t room and\tslid\tinto\tthe\tchair.\tHis\tfather\tpoured\thimself\ta\tglass\tof\tjuice\tand\tsaid\twithout looking\t at\t him,\t \\\"At\t least\t you\t fill\t out\t your\t uniform.\t Thanks\t to\t your\t mother's blood,\tyour\tbrother\tis\tall\tgangly\tlimbs\tand\tawkward\tangles.\\\" Chaol\t bristled\t at\t the\t way\t his\t father\t spat\t your\t mother's\t blood,\t but\t made himself\tpour\ta\tcup\tof\ttea,\tthen\tbutter\ta\tslice\tof\tbread. \\\"Are\t you\t just\t going\t to\t keep\t quiet,\t or\t are\t you\t going\t to\t say\t something?\\\" \\\"What\tcould\tI\tpossibly\thave\tto\tsay\tto\tyou?\\\" His\t father\t gave\t him\t a\t thin\t smile.\t \\\"A\t polite\t son\t would\t inquire\t after\t the\t state of\this\tfamily.\\\" \\\"I\t haven't\t been\t your\t son\t for\t ten\t years.\t I\t don't\t see\t why\t I\t should\t start\t acting like\tone\tnow.\\\" His\t father's\t eyes\t flicked\t to\t the\t sword\t at\t Chaol's\t side,\t examining,\t judging, weighing.\t Chaol\t reined\t in\t the\t urge\t to\t walk\t out.\t It\t had\t been\t a\t mistake\t to\t accept his\tfather's\tinvitation.\tHe\tshould\thave\tburned\tthe\tnote\the\treceived\tlast\tnight.\tBut after\the'd\tensured\tthat\tMinister\tMullison\twas\tlocked\tup,\tthe\tking's\tlecture\tabout Celaena\tmaking\ta\tfool\tout\tof\thim\tand\this\tguards\thad\tsomehow\tworn\tthrough\this better\tjudgment. And\t Celaena.\t He\t had\t no\t idea\t how\t she'd\t gotten\t out\t of\t her\t rooms.\t No\t idea. The\t guards\t had\t been\t alert\t and\t reported\t no\t noise.\t The\t windows\t hadn't\t been opened,\t and\t neither\t had\t her\t front\t door.\t And\t when\t he\t asked\t Philippa,\t she\t only said\tthat\tthe\tbedroom\tdoor\thad\tbeen\tlocked\tall\tnight. Celaena\twas\tkeeping\tsecrets\tagain.\tShe'd\tlied\tto\tthe\tking\tabout\tthe\tmen\tshe'd","killed\t in\t the\t warehouse\t to\t rescue\t him.\t And\t there\t were\t other\t mysteries\t lurking around\t her,\t mysteries\t that\t he'd\t better\t start\t figuring\t out\t if\t he\t was\t to\t stand\t a chance\tof\tsurviving\ther\twrath.\tWhat\this\t men\thad\treported\tabout\tthe\tbody\tthat had\tbeen\tleft\tin\tthat\talley. \\\"Tell\tme\twhat\tyou've\tbeen\tup\tto.\\\" \\\"What\t do\t you\t wish\t to\t know?\\\"\t Chaol\t said\t flatly,\t not\t touching\t his\t food\t or drink. His\t father\t leaned\t back\t in\t his\t seat--a\t movement\t that\t had\t once\t made\t Chaol start\t sweating.\t It\t usually\t meant\t that\t his\t father\t was\t about\t to\t focus\t all\t of\t his attention\t on\t him,\t that\t he'd\t judge\t and\t consider\t and\t dole\t out\t punishment\t for\t any sort\t of\t weakness,\t any\t missteps.\t But\t Chaol\t was\t a\t grown\t man\t now,\t and\t he answered\tonly\tto\this\tking. \\\"Are\tyou\tenjoying\tthe\tposition\tyou\tsacrificed\tyour\tlineage\tto\tattain?\\\" \\\"Yes.\\\" \\\"I\tsuppose\tI\thave\tyou\tto\tthank\tfor\tbeing\tdragged\tto\tRifthold.\tAnd\tif\tEyllwe rises\tup,\tthen\tI\tsuppose\twe\tcan\tall\tthank\tyou\tas\twell.\\\" It\ttook\tevery\tounce\tof\twill\the\thad,\tbut\tChaol\tjust\ttook\ta\tbite\tfrom\this\tbread and\tstared\tat\this\tfather. Something\tlike\tapproval\tflickered\tin\tthe\tman's\teyes,\tand\the\ttook\ta\tbite\tof\this own\tbread\tbefore\the\tsaid:\t\\\"Do\tyou\thave\ta\twoman,\tat\tleast?\\\"\tThe\teffort\tit\ttook\tto keep\this\tface\tblank\twas\tconsiderable.\t\\\"No.\\\"\tHis\tfather\tsmiled\tslowly.\t\\\"You\twere always\ta\thorrible\tliar.\\\" Chaol\t looked\t toward\t the\t window,\t toward\t the\t cloudless\t day\t that\t was revealing\tthe\tfirst\thint\tof\tspring. \\\"For\tyour\tsake,\tI\thope\tshe's\tat\tleast\tof\tnoble\tblood.\\\" \\\"For\tmy\tsake?\\\" \\\"You\t might\t have\t spat\t on\t your\t lineage,\t but\t you\t are\t still\t a\t Westfall--\t and\t we do\tnot\tmarry\tscullery\tmaids.\\\" Chaol\tsnorted,\tshaking\this\thead.\t\\\"I'll\tmarry\twhomever\tI\tplease,\twhether\tshe's a\t scullery\t maid\t or\t a\t princess\t or\t a\t slave.\t And\t it'll\t be\t none\t of\t your\t damn business.\\\" His\t father\t folded\t his\t hands\t in\t front\t of\t him.\t After\t a\t long\t silence,\t he\t said quietly,\t\\\"Your\tmother\tmisses\tyou.\tShe\twants\tyou\thome.\\\"","The\t breath\t was\t knocked\t out\t of\t him.\t But\t he\t kept\t his\t face\t blank,\t his\t tone steady\tas\the\tsaid,\t\\\"And\tdo\tyou,\tfather?\\\" His\tfather\tstared\tright\tat\thim--through\thim.\t\\\"If\tEyllwe\trises\tup\tin\tretaliation, if\twe\tfind\tourselves\tfacing\ta\twar,\tthen\tAnielle\twill\tneed\ta\tstrong\their.\\\" \\\"If\tyou've\tgroomed\tTerrin\tto\tbe\tyour\their,\tthen\tI'm\tsure\the'll\tdo\tjust\tfine.\\\" \\\"Terrin\t is\t a\t scholar,\t not\t a\t warrior.\t He\t was\t born\t that\t way.\t If\t Eyllwe\t rebels, then\t there\t is\t a\t good\t chance\t that\t the\t wild\t men\t in\t the\t Fangs\t will\t rise\t up,\t too. Anielle\t will\t be\t the\t first\t place\t they\t sack.\t They've\t been\t dreaming\t of\t revenge\t for too\tlong.\\\" He\twondered\tjust\thow\tmuch\tthis\twas\tgrating\ton\this\tfather's\tpride,\tand\tpart\tof him\ttruly\twanted\tto\tmake\thim\tsuffer\tfor\tit. But\t he'd\t had\t enough\t of\t suffering,\t and\t enough\t of\t hatred.\t And\t he\t hardly\t had any\t fight\t left\t in\t him\t now\t that\t Celaena\t had\t made\t it\t clear\t she'd\t sooner\t eat\t hot coals\tthan\tlook\tat\thim\twith\taffection\tin\ther\teyes. Now\tthat\tCelaena\twas--gone.\tSo\the\tjust\tsaid,\t\\\"My\tposition\tis\there.\tMy\tlife\tis here.\\\" \\\"Your\t people\t need\t you.\t They\t will\t need\t you.\t Would\t you\t be\t so\t selfish\t as\t to turn\tyour\tback\ton\tthem?\\\" \\\"The\tway\tmy\tfather\tturned\this\tback\ton\tme?\\\" His\t father\t smiled\t again,\t a\t cruel,\t cold\t thing.\t \\\"You\t disgraced\t your\t family when\t you\t gave\t up\t your\t title.\t You\t disgraced\t me.\t But\t you\t have\t made\t yourself useful\t these\t years--made\t the\t Crown\t Prince\t rely\t upon\t you.\t And\t when\t Dorian\t is king,\the'll\treward\tyou\tfor\tit,\twon't\the?\tHe\tcould\tmake\tAnielle\ta\tduchy,\tand\tbless you\twith\tlands\tlarge\tenough\tto\trival\tPerrington's\tterritory\taround\tMorath.\\\" \\\"What\tis\tit\tthat\tyou\treally\twant,\tfather?\tTo\tprotect\tyour\tpeople,\tor\tto\tuse\tmy friendship\twith\tDorian\tto\tyour\tgain?\\\" \\\"Would\t you\t throw\t me\t in\t the\t dungeons\t if\t I\t said\t both?\t I\t hear\t you\t like\t to\t do that\t to\t the\t people\t who\t dare\t provoke\t you\t these\t days.\\\"\t And\t then\t there\t was\t that gleam\t in\t his\t eyes\t that\t told\t Chaol\t just\t how\t much\t his\t father\t already\t knew. \\\"Perhaps\tif\tyou\tdo,\tyour\twoman\tand\tI\tcan\texchange\tnotes\tabout\tthe\tconditions.\\\" \\\"If\t you\t want\t me\t back\t in\t Anielle,\t you're\t not\t doing\t a\t very\t good\t job\t of convincing\tme.\\\" \\\"Do\tI\tneed\tto\tconvince\tyou?\tYou\tfailed\tto\tprotect\tthe\tprincess,\tand\tthat\thas","created\ta\tpossibility\tof\twar.\tThe\tassassin\twho\twas\twarming\tyour\tbed\tnow\twants nothing\tmore\tthan\tto\tspill\tyour\tinnards\ton\tthe\tground.\tWhat's\tleft\tfor\tyou\there, except\tmore\tshame?\\\" Chaol\t slammed\t his\t hands\t on\t the\t table,\t rattling\t the\t dishes.\t \\\"Enough.\\\"\t He didn't\t want\t his\t father\t knowing\t anything\t about\t Celaena,\t or\t about\t the\t remaining fragments\tof\this\theart.\tHe\twouldn't\tlet\this\tservants\tchange\tthe\tsheets\tof\this\tbed because\t they\t still\t smelled\t like\t her,\t because\t he\t went\t to\t sleep\t dreaming\t that\t she was\tstill\tlying\tbeside\thim. \\\"I\thave\tworked\tfor\tten\tyears\tto\tbe\tin\tthis\tposition,\tand\tit'll\ttake\tfar\tmore\tthan a\t few\t taunts\t from\t you\t to\t get\t me\t back\t to\t Anielle.\t And\t if\t you\t think\t Terrin\t is weak,\t then\t send\t him\t to\t me\t for\t training.\t Maybe\t here\t he'll\t learn\t how\t real\t men act.\\\" Chaol\t shoved\t his\t chair\t away\t from\t the\t table,\t rattling\t the\t dishes\t again,\t and stormed\tto\tthe\tdoor.\tFive\tminutes.\tHe'd\tlasted\tless\tthan\tfive\tminutes. He\t paused\t in\t the\t doorway\t and\t looked\t back\t at\t his\t father.\t The\t man\t was smiling\t faintly\t at\t him,\t still\t taking\t him\t in,\t still\t assessing\t how\t useful\t he'd\t be. \\\"You\t talk\t to\t her--you\t so\t much\t as\t look\t in\t her\t direction,\\\"\t Chaol\t warned,\t \\\"and, father\tor\tnot,\tI'll\tmake\tyou\twish\tyou'd\tnever\tset\tfoot\tin\tthis\tcastle.\\\" And\tthough\the\tdidn't\twait\tto\thear\twhat\this\tfather\thad\tto\tsay,\tChaol\tleft\twith the\tsinking\tfeeling\tthat\the'd\tsomehow\tjust\tstepped\tright\tinto\this\tfather's\tsnare.","There\t was\t no\t one\t else\t to\t carry\t out\t this\t task,\t not\t with\t Eyllwe\t soldiers\t and ambassadors\t still\t on\t their\t way\t to\t retrieve\t Nehemia's\t body\t from\t where\t it\t lay interred\t in\t the\t royal\t plot.\t As\t Celaena\t opened\t the\t door\t to\t that\t room\t that\t had smelled\tof\tblood\tand\tpain,\tshe\tsaw\tthat\tsomeone\thad\tcleaned\taway\tany\ttrace\tof gore.\t The\t mattress\t was\t gone,\t and\t Celaena\t paused\t in\t the\t doorway\t as\t she surveyed\t the\t skeleton\t of\t the\t bed\t frame.\t Perhaps\t it\t would\t be\t best\t to\t leave Nehemia's\tbelongings\tto\tthe\tpeople\tthat\tcame\tto\tbring\ther\tback\tto\tEyllwe. But\t would\t they\t be\t friends\t of\t hers?\t The\t thought\t of\t strangers\t touching Nehemia's\tbelongings,\tpacking\tthem\taway\tlike\tany\tother\tobjects,\tmade\ther\twild with\tgrief\tand\trage. Almost\tas\twild\tas\tshe'd\tbeen\tearlier\ttoday,\twhen\tshe'd\twalked\tinto\ther\town dressing\t room\t and\t ripped\t every\t gown\t off\t its\t hanger,\t pulled\t out\t every\t pair\t of shoes,\tevery\ttunic,\tevery\tribbon\tand\tcloak\tand\tthrown\tthem\tinto\tthe\thallway. She'd\t burned\t the\t dresses\t that\t reminded\t her\t most\t of\t Nehemia,\t the\t dresses she'd\t worn\t at\t their\t lessons,\t at\t their\t meals,\t and\t on\t their\t walks\t around\t the\t castle, and\tonly\twhen\tPhilippa\tcame\tin,\tscolding\ther\tabout\tthe\tsmoke,\thad\tCelaena\thad relented,\t allowing\t her\t to\t take\t whatever\t clothing\t survived\t and\t donate\t it.\t But\t it had\tbeen\ttoo\tlate\tto\tstop\tCelaena\tfrom\tburning\tthe\tdress\tshe'd\tworn\tthe\tnight\tof Chaol's\tbirthday.\tThat\tgown\thad\tburned\tfirst. And\t when\t her\t dressing\t room\t was\t empty,\t she\t shoved\t a\t bag\t of\t gold\t into Philippa's\t hands\t and\t told\t her\t to\t go\t buy\t some\t new\t clothes.\t Philippa\t had\t only given\ther\ta\tsad\tlook--another\tthing\tthat\tmade\tCelaena\tsick--and\tleft. It\t took\t Celaena\t an\t hour\t to\t gently,\t carefully,\t pack\t up\t Nehemia's\t clothes\t and jewelry,\t and\t she\t tried\t not\t to\t dwell\t too\t long\t on\t the\t memories\t that\t accompanied each\titem.\tOr\tthe\tlotus-blossom\tsmell\tthat\tclung\tto\teverything. When\tshe\thad\tsealed\tall\tthe\ttrunks,\tshe\twent\tto\tNehemia's\tdesk,\twhich\twas still\t littered\t with\t papers\t and\t books,\t as\t if\t the\t princess\t had\t only\t stepped\t outside for\t a\t moment.\t As\t she\t reached\t for\t the\t first\t paper,\t her\t eyes\t fell\t upon\t the\t arc\t of scars\taround\ther\tright\thand--the\tteeth\tmarks\tof\tthe\tridderak. The\tpapers\twere\tcovered\twith\tscribblings\tin\tEyllwe,\tand--and\tWyrdmarks.","Countless\t Wyrdmarks,\t some\t in\t long\t lines,\t some\t forming\t symbols\t like\t the ones\t Nehemia\t had\t traced\t underneath\t Celaena's\t bed\t all\t those\t months\t ago.\t How had\t the\t king's\t spies\t not\t taken\t these?\t Or\t had\t he\t not\t even\t bothered\t to\t have\t her rooms\t searched?\t She\t started\t stacking\t them\t into\t a\t pile.\t Perhaps\t she\t could\t still learn\tsome\tthings\tabout\tthe\tmarks,\teven\tif\tNehemia\twere-- Dead,\tshe\tmade\therself\tthink.\tNehemia\tis\tdead. Celaena\tlooked\tat\tthe\tscars\ton\ther\thand\tagain,\tand\twas\tabout\tto\tturn\tfrom\tthe desk\twhen\tshe\tspotted\ta\tfamiliar-looking\tbook\ttucked\thalf-beneath\tsome\tpapers. It\twas\tthe\tbook\tfrom\tDavis'\toffice. This\tcopy\twas\tolder,\tmore\tdamaged--but\tit\twas\tthe\tsame\tbook.\tAnd\twritten on\t the\t inside\t cover\t was\t a\t sentence\t in\t Wyrdmarks--such\t basic\t marks\t that\t even Celaena\tcould\tunderstand. Do\tnot\ttrust-- The\tfinal\tsymbol,\tthough,\twas\ta\tmystery.\tIt\tlooked\tlike\ta\twyvern--\tthe\tRoyal Seal.\tOf\tcourse\tshe\tshouldn't\ttrust\tthe\tKing\tof\tAdarlan. She\tflipped\tthrough\tthe\tbook,\tscanning\tit\tfor\tany\tinformation.\tNothing. And\tthen\tshe\tturned\tto\tthe\tback\tcover.\tAnd\tthere,\tNehemia\thad\twritten-- It\tis\tonly\twith\tthe\teye\tthat\tone\tcan\tsee\trightly. It\t was\t scribbled\t in\t the\t common\t tongue,\t then\t in\t Eyllwe,\t then\t in\t some\t other languages\t that\t Celaena\t didn't\t recognize.\t Different\t translations--as\t if\t Nehemia had\twondered\tif\tthe\triddle\theld\tany\tmeaning\tin\tanother\ttongue.\tThe\tsame\tbook, the\tsame\triddle,\tthe\tsame\twriting\tin\tthe\tback. An\tidle\tlord's\tnonsense,\tNehemia\thad\tsaid. But\t Nehemia.\t Nehemia\t and\t Archer\t had\t led\t the\t group\t to\t which\t Davis\t had belonged.\t Nehemia\t had\t known\t Davis.\t Known\t him\t and\t lied\t about\t it,\t lied\t about the\triddle,\tand-- Nehemia\t had\t promised.\t Promised\t that\t there\t would\t be\t no\t more\t secrets between\tthem. Promised\tand\tlied.\tPromise,\tand\tdeceived\ther. She\tfought\tdown\ta\tscream\tas\tshe\ttore\tthrough\tevery\tother\tpiece\tof\tpaper\ton the\tdesk,\tin\tthe\troom.\tNothing. What\telse\thad\tNehemia\tlied\tabout?","It\tis\tonly\twith\tthe\teye... Celaena\t touched\t her\t necklace.\t Nehemia\t had\t known\t about\t the\t tomb.\t If\t she had\tbeen\tfeeding\tinformation\tto\tthis\tgroup,\tand.\thad\tencouraged\tCelaena\tto\tlook into\t the\t eye\t carved\t into\t the\t wall.\t Nehemia\t had\t been\t looking,\t too.\t But\t after\t the duel,\tshe'd\treturned\tthe Eye\t of\t Elena\t to\t Celaena--if\t Nehemia\t had\t needed\t it,\t she\t would\t have\t kept\t it. And\tArcher\thadn't\tmentioned\tknowing\tanything\tabout\tthis. Unless\tthis\twasn't\tthe\teye\tthe\triddle\treferenced. Because. \\\"By\tthe\tWyrd,\\\"\tCelaena\tbreathed\tand\trushed\tout\tof\tthe\troom. Mort\thissed\twhen\tshe\tappeared\tat\tthe\tdoor\tto\tthe\ttomb.\t\\\"Plan\ton\tdesecrating any\tother\tsacred\tobjects\ttonight?\\\" Carrying\t a\t satchel\t full\t of\t papers\t and\t books\t that\t she'd\t grabbed\t from\t her rooms,\t Celaena\t merely\t patted\t his\t head\t as\t she\t walked\t by.\t His\t bronze\t teeth clanked\tagainst\teach\tother\tas\the\tsought\tto\tbite\ther. The\t tomb\t was\t filled\t with\t moonlight\t bright\t enough\t to\t see\t by.\t And\t there, directly\t across\t the\t tomb\t from\t the\t eye\t in\t the\t wall,\t was\t another\t eye,\t golden\t and gleaming. Damaris.\t It\t was\t Damaris,\t the\t Sword\t of\t Truth.\t Gavin\t could\t see\t nothing\t but what\twas\tright-- It\tis\tonly\twith\tthe\teye\tthat\tone\tcan\tsee\trightly. \\\"Am\tI\tso\tblind?\\\"\tCelaena\tdumped\ther\tleather\tsatchel\ton\tthe\tfloor,\tthe\tbooks and\tpapers\tspilling\tacross\tthe\tstones. \\\"It\tappears\tso!\\\"\tMort\tsang.\tThe\teye-shaped\tpommel\twas\tthe\texact\tsize. Celaena\tlifted\tthe\tsword\tfrom\tits\tstand\tand\tunsheathed\tit.\tThe\tWyrdmarks\ton the\tblade\tseemed\tto\tripple.\tShe\trushed\tback\tto\tthe\twall. \\\"In\t case\t you\t didn't\t realize,\\\"\t called\t Mort,\t \\\"you're\t supposed\t to\t hold\t the\t eye against\tthe\thole\tin\tthe\twall\tand\tlook\tthrough\tit.\\\" \\\"I\tknow\tthat,\\\"\tsnapped\tCelaena. And\t so,\t not\t daring\t to\t breathe\t the\t entire\t time,\t Celaena\t lifted\t the\t pommel\t to the\t hole\t until\t both\t eyes\t were\t evenly\t aligned.\t She\t stood\t on\t her\t toes\t and\t peered in.\tand\tgroaned.","It\twas\ta\tpoem. A\tlengthy\tpoem. Celaena\t fished\t out\t the\t parchment\t and\t charcoal\t she'd\t stashed\t in\t her\t pocket and\t copied\t down\t the\t words,\t darting\t to\t and\t from\t the\t wall\t as\t she\t read, memorized,\t double-checked,\t and\t then\t recorded.\t It\t was\t only\t when\t she\t had finished\tthe\tlast\tstanza\tthat\tshe\tread\tit\taloud. By\tthe\tValg,\tthree\twere\tmade, Of\tthe\tGate-Stone\tof\tthe\tWyrd: Obsidian\tthe\tgods\tforbade\tAnd\tstone\tthey\tgreatly\tfeared. In\tgrief,\the\thid\tone\tin\tthe\tcrown\tOf\ther\the\tloved\tso\twell, To\tkeep\twith\ther\twhere\tshe\tlay\tdown\tInside\tthe\tstarry\tcell. The\tsecond\tone\twas\thidden\tIn\ta\tmountain\tmade\tof\tfire, Where\tall\tmen\twere\tforbidden\tDespite\ttheir\tgreat\tdesires. Where\tthe\tthird\tlies\tWill\tnever\tbe\ttold\tBy\tvoice\tor\ttongue\tOr\tsum\tof\tgold. Celaena\t shook\t her\t head.\t More\t nonsense.\t And\t the\t rhyme\t with\t \\\"Wyrd\\\"\t and \\\"Feared\\\"\t was\t off.\t Not\t to\t mention\t the\t break\t in\t the\t rhyming\t scheme\t in\t the\t final lines. \\\"Since\tyou\tclearly\tknew\tthat\tthe\tsword\tcould\tbe\tused\tto\tread\tthe\triddle,\\\"\tshe said\tto\tMort,\t\\\"then\twhy\tdon't\tyou\tsave\tme\tsome\ttrouble\tand\ttell\tme\twhat\tthe\thell this\tone's\tabout?\\\" Mort\tsniffed.\t\\\"It\tsounds\tto\tme\tlike\tit's\ta\triddle\tfor\tthe\tlocation\tof\tthree\tvery powerful\titems.\\\" She\tread\tthrough\tthe\t poem\tagain.\t\\\"But\tthree\twhat?\tSounds\tlike\tthe\t second thing\t is\t hidden\t in--in\t a\t volcano?\t And\t the\t first\t and\t third\t ones.\\\"\t She\t gritted\t her teeth.\t\\\"Gate-stone\tof\tthe\tWyrd.\tWhat\tis\tthis\ta\triddle\tfor?\tAnd\twhy\tis\tit\there?\\\" \\\"Isn't\t that\t the\t question\t of\t the\t millennia!\\\"\t Mort\t crowed\t as\t Celaena\t walked back\tto\tthe\tpapers\tand\tbooks\tshe'd\tscattered\tat\tthe\tother\tend\tof\tthe\ttomb.\t\\\"You'd better\tclean\tup\tthe\tmess\tyou\tbrought\tdown\there,\tor\tI'll\task\tthe\tgods\tto\tsend\tsome wicked\tbeastie\tafter\tyou.\\\" \\\"Already\t happened--Cain\t beat\t you\t to\t it\t months\t ago.\\\"\t She\t replaced\t Damaris in\t its\t stand.\t \\\"Too\t bad\t the\t ridderak\t didn't\t take\t you\t off\t the\t door\t when\t he\t burst through.\\\"\t A\t thought\t hit\t her,\t and\t she\t stared\t at\t the\t wall\t in\t front\t of\t her--where","she'd\tonce\tfallen\tto\tavoid\tbeing\tripped\tapart.\t\\\"Who\twas\tit\tthat\tmoved\tthe\tcarcass of\tthe\tridderak?\\\" \\\"Princess\tNehemia,\tof\tcourse.\\\" Celaena\ttwisted\tto\tlook\ttoward\tthe\tdoorway.\t\\\"Nehemia?\\\" Mort\t made\t a\t choking\t sound\t and\t cursed\t his\t own\t loose\t tongue.\t \\\"Nehemia was--Nehemia\twas\there?\tBut\tI\tonly\tbrought\ther\tto\tthe\ttomb.\\\"\tMort's\tbronze\tface gleamed\t in\t the\t light\t of\t the\t candle\t she'd\t set\t before\t the\t door.\t \\\"You're\t telling\t me that\t Nehemia\t came\t here\t after\t the\t ridderak\t attacked?\t That\t she\t knew\t about\t this place\tall\talong?\tAnd\tyou're\tonly\ttelling\tme\tnow?\\\" Mort\tclosed\this\teyes.\t\\\"Not\tmy\tbusiness.\\\" Another\tdeceit.\tAnother\tmystery. \\\"I\t suppose\t if\t Cain\t could\t get\t down\t here,\t then\t there\t are\t other\t entrances,\\\"\t she said. \\\"Don't\task\tme\twhere\tthey\tare,\\\"\tMort\tsaid,\treading\ther\tmind.\t\\\"I've\tnever\tleft this\tdoor.\\\"\tShe\thad\ta\tfeeling\tit\twas\tanother\tlie--he\talways\tseemed\tto\tknow\tabout the\tlayout\tof\tthe\ttomb\tand\twhen\tshe\twas\ttouching\tthings\tshe\tshouldn't\tbe. \\\"Then\twhat\tuse\tare\tyou?\tBrannon\tjust\tmade\tyou\tto\tpiss\teveryone\toff?\\\" \\\"He\tdid\thave\ta\tsense\tof\thumor\tlike\tthat.\\\" The\t thought\t of\t Mort\t actually\t having\t known\t the\t ancient\t Fae\t king\t made\t her quake\t inside.\t \\\"I\t thought\t you\t had\t powers.\t You\t can't\t just\t say\t some\t nonsense words\tand\thave\tthe\tmeaning\tof\tthe\triddle\tbe\trevealed\tto\tme?\\\" \\\"Of\tcourse\tnot.\tAnd\tisn't\tthe\tjourney\tmore\timportant\tthan\tthe\tend?\\\" \\\"No,\\\"\tshe\tspat.\tSpewing\ta\tconcoction\tof\tcurses\tthat\tcould\thave\tcurdled\tmilk, Celaena\t tucked\t the\t paper\t into\t her\t pocket.\t She'd\t need\t to\t study\t this\t riddle--at length. If\t these\t items\t were\t something\t that\t Nehemia\t was\t looking\t for,\t things\t that she'd\t lied\t to\t keep\t secret.\t Celaena\t might\t be\t able\t to\t accept\t that\t Archer\t and\t his friends\twere\tcapable\tof\tgood,\tbut\tshe\tcertainly\tdidn't\ttrust\tthem\tto\thold\tan\tobject with\t the\t power\t that\t the\t riddle\t mentioned.\t If\t they\t were\t already\t looking,\t then perhaps\tit\twas\tin\ther\tbest\tinterest\tto\tfind\tthe\titems\tbefore\tanyone\telse.\tNehemia hadn't\t figured\t out\t that\t the\t eye\t riddle\t referenced\t Damaris,\t but\t had\t she\t known what\t the\t three\t objects\t were?\t Maybe\t she'd\t pursued\t the\t eye\t riddle\t because\t she was\ttrying\tto\tfind\tthe\tobjects\tbefore\tthe\tking\tdid.","The\tking's\tplans--had\tthey\tbeen\tto\tfind\tthese\tthings? She\tpicked\tup\ther\tcandle\tand\tstrode\tfrom\tthe\troom. \\\"Has\tthe\tquesting\tspirit\tseized\tyou\tat\tlast?\\\" \\\"Not\t yet,\\\"\t she\t said\t as\t she\t walked\t by.\t Once\t she\t found\t out\t what\t the\t three items\t were,\t then\t maybe\t she'd\t consider\t finding\t a\t way\t to\t go\t after\t them.\t Even\t if the\tonly\tvolcanoes\tshe\tknew\tabout\twere\tin\tthe\tDesert\tPeninsula,\tand\tthere\twas no\tway\tin\thell\tthe\tking\twould\tlet\ther\tjust\tgo\toff\ton\ther\town\tfor\tsuch\ta\tlong\ttrip. \\\"It's\tsuch\ta\tpity\tthat\tI'm\tattached\tto\tthis\tdoor,\\\"\tsighed\tMort.\t\\\"Imagine\tall\tthe trouble\tyou'll\tget\tinto\twhile\ttrying\tto\tsolve\tthe\triddle!\\\" He\twas\tright,\tand\tas\tCelaena\twalked\tup\tthe\twinding\tstair,\tshe\tfound\therself wishing\t that\t he\t could\t actually\t move\t about.\t Then\t she'd\t at\t least\t have\t one\t person to\tdiscuss\tthis\twith.\tIf\tshe\tdid\thave\tto\tgo\thunt\tthese\tthings\tdown,\twhatever\tthey were,\t then\t she'd\t have\t no\t one\t to\t go\t with\t her.\t There\t was\t no\t one\t who\t knew\t the truth. The\ttruth. She\tsnorted.\tWhat\ttruth\twas\tthere\tnow?\tThe\ttruth\tthat\tshe\thad\tno\tone\tleft\tto talk\tto?\tThat\tNehemia\thad\tlied\tthrough\ther\tteeth\tabout\tso\tmany\tthings?\tThat\tthe king\t might\t be\t searching\t for\t a\t earth-shattering\t source\t of\t power?\t That\t he\t might already\t have\t something\t like\t this?\t Archer\t had\t mentioned\t a\t source\t of\t power outside\tof\tmagic--was\tthat\twhat\tthese\tthings\twere?\tNehemia\thad\tto\thave\tknown. Celaena\tslowed,\tthe\tcandle\tguttering\tin\ta\tdamp\tbreeze\tthrough\tthe\tstairwell, and\tslumped\tonto\ta\tstep,\tbracing\ther\tarms\ton\ther\tknees. \\\"What\telse\twere\tyou\thiding,\tNehemia?\\\"\tshe\twhispered\tinto\tthe\tdarkness. Celaena\t didn't\t need\t to\t turn\t to\t know\t who\t sat\t behind\t her\t as\t something\t silver and\tglimmering\tshone\tin\tthe\tcorner\tof\ther\teye. \\\"I\tthought\tyou\twere\ttoo\texhausted\tto\tcome\there,\\\"\tshe\tsaid\tto\tthe\tfirst\tQueen of\tAdarlan. \\\"I\t can\t only\t stay\t for\t a\t few\t moments,\\\"\t Elena\t said,\t her\t dress\t rustling\t as\t she took\t a\t seat\t a\t few\t steps\t up\t from\t Celaena.\t It\t seemed\t a\t distinctly\t un-queenlike thing\tto\tdo. Together,\tthey\tstared\tinto\tthe\tgloom\tof\tthe\tstairwell,\tCelaena's\tbreathing\tthe only\tsound.\tShe\tsupposed\tElena\tdidn't\tneed\tto\tbreathe--\tdidn't\tmake\tany\tsounds unless\tshe\twanted\tto.","Celaena\tgripped\ther\tknees.\t\\\"What\twas\tit\tlike?\\\"\tshe\tasked\tquietly. \\\"Painless,\\\"\tElena\tsaid\twith\tequal\tquiet.\t\\\"Painless,\tand\teasy.\\\" \\\"Were\tyou\tfrightened?\\\" \\\"I\twas\ta\tvery\told\twoman,\tsurrounded\tby\tmy\tchildren,\tand\ttheir\tchildren,\tand their\tchildren's\tchildren.\tI\thad\tnothing\tto\tbe\tafraid\tof\twhen\tthe\ttime\tcame.\\\" \\\"Where\tdid\tyou\tgo?\\\" A\tsoft\tlaugh.\t\\\"You\tknow\tI\tcan't\ttell\tyou\tthat.\\\" Celaena's\t lips\t wobbled.\t \\\"She\t didn't\t die\t an\t old\t woman\t in\t her\t bed.\\\"\t \\\"No,\t she didn't.\tBut\twhen\ther\tspirit\tleft\ther\tbody,\tthere\twas\tno\tmore\tpain--no\tmore\tfear. She\tis\tsafe\tnow.\\\" Celaena\t nodded.\t Elena's\t dress\t rustled\t again,\t and\t then\t she\t was\t on\t the\t step beside\t her,\t an\t arm\t around\t her\t shoulders.\t She\t hadn't\t realized\t how\t cold\t she\t was until\tshe\tfound\therself\tleaning\tinto\tElena's\twarmth. The\t queen\t didn't\t say\t anything\t as\t Celaena\t buried\t her\t face\t in\t her\t hands\t and wept\tat\tlast. There\twas\tone\tlast\tthing\tshe\thad\tto\tdo.\tPerhaps\tthe\thardest\tand\tthe\tworst\tof all\tthe\tthings\tshe\thad\tdone\tsince\tNehemia\thad\tdied. The\tmoon\twas\toverhead,\tcasting\tthe\tworld\tin\tsilver.\tEven\tthough\tthey\tdidn't recognize\ther\tin\ther\tcurrent\tattire,\tthe\tnight\twatch\tat\tthe\troyal\tmausoleum\thadn't stopped\ther\tas\tshe\tpassed\tthrough\tthe\tiron\tgates\tat\tthe\tback\tof\tone\tof\tthe\tcastle gardens.\t Nehemia\t wouldn't\t be\t entombed\t inside\t the\t white\t marble\t building, though.\tInside\twas\tfor\tthe\troyal\tfamily. Celaena\twalked\taround\tthe\tdomed\tbuilding,\tfeeling\tas\tif\tthe\twyverns\tcarved into\tthe\tside\tstared\tat\ther\tas\tshe\tpassed. The\tfew\tpeople\tstill\tactive\tat\tthis\thour\thad\tquickly\tlooked\taway\tas\tshe\tmade her\t way\t here.\t She\t didn't\t blame\t them.\t A\t black\t dress\t and\t a\t sheer,\t flowing\t black veil\tspoke\tenough\tabout\ther\tgrief,\tand\tkept\teveryone\tat\ta\tlong,\tlong\tdistance.\tAs if\ther\tsorrow\twere\ta\tplague. But\t she\t didn't\t give\t a\t damn\t what\t the\t others\t thought--the\t mourning\t clothes weren't\tfor\tthem.\tShe\trounded\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\tmausoleum\tand\tbeheld\tthe\trows\tof graves\t in\t the\t gravel\t garden\t behind\t it,\t the\t pale\t and\t worn\t stones\t illuminated\t by the\tmoon.\tStatues\tdepicting\teverything\tfrom\tmourning\tgods\tto\tdancing\tmaidens marked\t the\t resting\t places\t of\t distinguished\t nobility,\t some\t so\t lifelike\t they\t might","be\tpeople\tfrozen\tin\tstone. Since\tit\thad\tnot\tsnowed\tsince\tbefore\tNehemia's\tmurder,\tit\twas\teasy\tenough to\tspot\tthe\tgrave\tby\tthe\tupturned\tearth\tbefore\tit. There\t were\t no\t flowers,\t not\t even\t a\t headstone.\t Just\t fresh\t soil\t and\t a\t sword thrust\t into\t the\t earth--one\t of\t the\t curved\t swords\t of\t Nehemia's\t fallen\t guards. Apparently,\t no\t one\t had\t bothered\t to\t give\t her\t anything\t more,\t not\t when\t she'd\t be retrieved\tand\tbrought\tback\tto\tEyllwe. Celaena\tstared\tat\tthe\tdark,\ttilled\tearth,\ta\tchill\twind\trustling\ther\tveil. Her\t chest\t ached,\t but\t this\t was\t the\t one\t last\t thing\t she\t had\t to\t do,\t the\t one\t last honor\tshe\tcould\tgive\ther\tfriend. Celaena\ttilted\ther\thead\tto\tthe\tsky,\tclosed\ther\teyes,\tand\tbegan\tto\tsing. Chaol\thad\ttold\thimself\tthat\the\twas\tonly\tfollowing\tCelaena\tto\tmake\tsure\tshe didn't\t hurt\t herself\t or\t anyone\t else,\t but\t as\t she'd\t neared\t the\t royal\t mausoleum,\t he followed\tfor\tother\treasons. The\tnight\tprovided\tgood\tcover,\tbut\tthe\tmoon\twas\tbright\tenough\tto\tkeep\thim back,\tfar\tenough\taway\tso\tshe\twouldn't\thear\this\tapproach.\tBut\tthen\the\tsaw\twhere she\tstopped,\tand\trealized\the\thad\tno\tright\tto\tbe\there\tto\tsee\tthis.\tHe'd\tbeen\tabout to\tturn\taway\twhen\tshe\tlifted\ther\tface\tto\tthe\tmoon\tand\tsang. It\t was\t not\t in\t any\t language\t that\t he\t knew.\t Not\t in\t the\t common\t tongue,\t or\t in Eyllwe,\t or\t in\t the\t languages\t of\t Fenharrow\t or\t Melisande\t or\t that\t of\t anywhere\t on the\tcontinent. This\tlanguage\twas\tancient,\teach\tword\tfull\tof\tpower\tand\trage\tand\tagony. She\tdid\tnot\thave\ta\tbeautiful\tvoice.\tAnd\tmany\tof\tthe\twords\tsounded\tlike\thalf- sobs,\t the\t vowels\t stretched\t by\t the\t pangs\t of\t sorrow,\t the\t consonants\t hardened\t by anger.\t She\t beat\t her\t breast\t in\t time,\t so\t full\t of\t savage\t grace,\t so\t at\t odds\t with\t the black\tgown\tand\tveil\tshe\twore.\tThe\thair\ton\this\tneck\tstood\tas\tthe\tlament\tpoured from\ther\tmouth,\tunearthly\tand\tforeign,\ta\tsong\tof\tgrief\tso\told\tthat\tit\tpredated\tthe stone\tcastle\titself. And\tthen\tthe\tsong\tfinished,\tits\tend\tas\tbrutal\tand\tsudden\tas\tNehemia's\tdeath had\tbeen. She\tstood\tthere\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments,\tsilent\tand\tunmoving. He\twas\tabout\tto\twalk\taway\twhen\tshe\thalf-turned\tto\thim. Her\tthin\tsilver\tcirclet\tshimmered\tin\tthe\tmoonlight,\tweighing\tdown\ta\tveil\tso","concealing\tthat\tonly\the\thad\trecognized\ther. A\t breeze\t whipped\t past\t them,\t making\t the\t branches\t of\t the\t trees\t moan\t and creak,\tsetting\ther\tveil\tand\tskirts\tbillowing\tto\tone\tside. \\\"Celaena,\\\"\the\tpleaded.\tShe\tdidn't\tmove,\ther\tstillness\tthe\tonly\tsign\tthat\tshe'd heard\thim.\tAnd\tthat\tshe\thad\tno\tinterest\tin\ttalking. What\t could\t he\t ever\t say\t to\t repair\t the\t rift\t between\t them,\t anyway?\t He'd\t kept information\t from\t her.\t Even\t if\t it\thadn't\t been\t directly\t responsible\t for\t Nehemia's death,\tif\teither\tgirl\thad\tbeen\tmore\talert,\tthey\tmight\thave\thad\ttheir\town\tdefenses prepared.\t The\t loss\t she\t felt,\t the\t stillness\t with\t which\t she\t watched\t him--that\t was all\this\tfault. If\tthe\tpunishment\tfor\tthat\twas\tlosing\ther,\tthen\the'd\tendure\tit. So\t Chaol\t walked\t away,\t her\t lament\t still\t echoing\t through\t the\t night\t around him,\tcarried\ton\tthe\twind\tlike\tthe\tpealing\tof\tdistant\tbells.","The\t dawn\t was\t chill\t and\t gray\t as\t Celaena\t stood\t in\t the\t familiar\t field\t of\t the game\t park,\t a\t large\t stick\t dangling\t between\t her\t gloved\t fingers.\t Fleetfoot\t sat before\ther,\ther\ttail\tslashing\tthrough\tthe\tlong,\tdried\tgrass\tthat\tpoked\tup\tthrough the\tremaining\tlayer\tof\tsnow.\tBut\tthe\thound\tdidn't\twhine\tor\tbark\tfor\tthe\tstick\tto be\tthrown. No,\t Fleetfoot\t just\t kept\t sitting\t there,\t watching\t the\t palace\t far\t behind\t them. Waiting\tfor\tsomeone\twho\twas\tnever\tgoing\tto\tarrive. Celaena\t stared\t across\t the\t barren\t field,\t listening\t to\t the\t sighing\t grasses.\t No one\thad\ttried\tto\tstop\ther\tfrom\tleaving\ther\trooms\tlast\tnight--or\tthis\tmorning.\tYet even\t though\t the\t guards\t were\t gone,\t whenever\t she\t left\t her\t room,\t Ress\t had\t an uncanny\thabit\tof\taccidentally\trunning\tinto\ther. She\t didn't\t care\t if\t he\t reported\t her\t movements\t to\t Chaol.\t She\t didn't\t even\t care that\t Chaol\t had\t been\t spying\t on\t her\t at\t Nehemia's\t grave\t last\t night.\t Let\t him\t think what\the\twould\tabout\tthe\tsong. With\ta\tsharp\tintake\tof\tbreath,\tshe\thurled\tthe\tstick\tas\thard\tas\tshe\tcould,\tso\tfar it\tblended\tin\twith\tthe\tcloudy\tmorning\tsky.\tShe\tdidn't\thear\tit\tland. Fleetfoot\t turned\t to\t look\t up\t at\t Celaena,\t her\t golden\t eyes\t full\t of\t question. Celaena\t reached\t down\t to\t stroke\t the\t warm\t head,\t the\t long\t ears,\t the\t slender muzzle.\tBut\tthe\tquestion\tremained. Celaena\tsaid,\t\\\"She's\tnever\tcoming\tback.\\\" The\tdog\tkept\twaiting. Dorian\thad\tspent\thalf\tthe\tnight\tin\tthe\tlibrary,\tsearching\tin\tforgotten\tcrevices, scouring\t every\t dark\t corner,\t every\t hidden\t nook,\t for\t any\t books\t on\t magic.\t And there\t were\t none.\t It\t wasn't\t surprising,\t but\t given\t how\t many\t books\t were\t in\t the library,\t and\t how\t many\t twisting\t passageways\t there\t were,\t he\t was\t a\t tad disappointed\tthat\tnothing\tof\tworth\tcould\tbe\tfound. He\tdidn't\teven\tknow\twhat\the'd\tdo\twith\ta\tbook\tlike\tthat\tonce\the\tfound\tit.\tHe couldn't\tbring\tit\tback\tto\this\trooms,\tsince\this\tservants\twere\tlikely\tto\tfind\tit.\tHe'd probably\t have\t to\t put\t it\t back\t in\t its\t hiding\t place\t and\t return\t to\t it\t whenever\t he could.","He\t was\t scanning\t a\t bookshelf\t built\t into\t a\t stone\t alcove\t when\t he\t heard footsteps.\tImmediately,\tjust\tas\the'd\tplanned\tand\trehearsed,\the\ttook\tout\tthe\tbook he'd\t tucked\t into\t his\t jacket\t and\t leaned\t against\t the\t wall,\t opening\t the\t book\t to\t a random\tpage. \\\"It's\ta\tlittle\tdark\tfor\treading,\\\"\ta\tfemale\tvoice\tsaid.\tShe\tsounded\tso\tnormal,\tso like\therself\tthat\tDorian\tnearly\tdropped\tthe\tbook. Celaena\t was\t standing\t a\t few\t feet\t away,\t arms\t crossed.\t Pitter-pattering\t feet echoed\tagainst\tthe\tfloors,\tand\ta\tmoment\tlater,\tDorian\tbraced\thimself\tagainst\tthe wall\t as\t Fleetfoot\t flung\t herself\t at\t him,\t all\t wagging\t tail\t and\t bountiful\t kisses. \\\"Gods,\t you're\t huge,\\\"\t he\t told\t the\t dog.\t She\t licked\t his\t cheek\t one\t last\t time\t and sprinted\t off\t down\t the\t hall.\t Dorian\t watched\t her\t go\t and\t raised\t his\t brows.\t \\\"I'm fairly\tcertain\tthat\twhatever\tshe's\tabout\tto\tdo,\tit\twon't\tmake\tthe\tlibrarians\thappy.\\\" \\\"She\tknows\tto\tjust\tstick\tto\tthe\tpoetry\tand\tmathematics\tbooks.\\\" Celaena's\tface\twas\tgrave\tand\tpale,\tbut\ther\teyes\tshone\twith\tfaint\tamusement. She\t wore\t a\t dark\t blue\t tunic\t he'd\t never\t seen\t before,\t and\t the\t golden\t embroidery glinted\tin\tthe\tdim\tlight.\tIn\tfact,\ther\twhole\toutfit\tlooked\tnew. The\tsilence\tthat\tsettled\tbetween\tthem\tmade\thim\tshift\ton\this\tfeet.\tWhat\tcould he\tpossibly\tsay\tto\ther?\tThe\tlast\ttime\tthey'd\tbeen\tthis\tclose,\tshe'd\tgrazed\ther\tnails across\this\tneck.\tHe'd\thad\tnightmares\tabout\tthat\tmoment. \\\"Can\tI\thelp\tyou\tfind\tanything?\\\"\the\tasked\ther.\tKeep\tit\tnormal,\tkeep\tit\tsimple. \\\"Crown\tPrince\tand\troyal\tlibrarian?\\\" \\\"Unofficial\t royal\t librarian,\\\"\t he\t said.\t \\\"A\t title\t hard-won\t after\t many\t years\t of hiding\there\tto\tavoid\tstuffy\tmeetings,\tmy\tmother,\tand.\twell,\teverything\telse.\\\" \\\"And\there\tI\twas,\tthinking\tyou\tjust\thid\tin\tyour\tlittle\ttower.\\\" Dorian\t laughed\t softly,\t but\t the\t sound\t somehow\t killed\t the\t amusement\t in\t her eyes.\tAs\tif\tthe\tsound\tof\tmerriment\twas\ttoo\traw\tagainst\tthe\twound\tof\tNehemia's death.\tKeep\tit\tsimple,\the\treminded\thimself.\t\\\"So?\tIs\tthere\ta\tbook\tI\tcan\thelp\tyou find?\t If\t that's\t a\t list\t of\t titles\t in\t your\t hand,\t then\t I\t could\t look\t them\t up\t in\t the catalog.\\\" \\\"No,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\tfolding\tthe\tpapers\tin\thalf.\t\\\"No,\tthere's\tno\tbook.\tI\tjust\twanted a\twalk.\\\" And\the'd\tjust\tcome\tto\ta\tdark\tcorner\tof\tthe\tlibrary\tto\tread. But\t he\t didn't\t push\t it,\t if\t only\t because\t she\t could\t easily\t start\t asking\t him","questions,\ttoo.\tIf\tshe\tremembered\twhat\thad\thappened\twhen\tshe\tattacked\tChaol, that\tis.\tHe\thoped\tshe\tdidn't. There\t was\t a\t muffled\t shriek\t from\t somewhere\t in\t the\t library,\t followed\t by\t a string\tof\thowled\tcurses\tand\tthe\tfamiliar\tpitter-pattering\tof\tpaws\ton\tstone.\tThen Fleetfoot\tcame\tsprinting\tdown\tthe\trow,\ta\tscroll\tof\tpaper\tin\ther\tjaws. \\\"Wicked\tbeast!\\\"\ta\tman\twas\tshouting.\t\\\"Come\tback\there\tat\tonce!\\\" Fleetfoot\tjust\tzoomed\ton\tby,\ta\tblur\tof\tgold. A\tmoment\tlater,\twhen\tthe\tlittle\tlibrarian\tcame\twaddling\tinto\tview\tand\tasked if\t they'd\t seen\t a\t dog,\t Celaena\t only\t shook\t her\t head\t and\t said\t that\t she\t had\t heard something--in\t the\t opposite\t direction.\t And\t then\t she\t told\t him\t to\t keep\t his\t voice down\tbecause\tthis\twas\ta\tlibrary. His\t eyes\t shooting\t daggers\t at\t her,\t the\t man\t huffed\t and\t scuttled\t away,\t his shouting\ta\tbit\tsofter. When\t he\t was\t gone,\t Dorian\t turned\t to\t her,\t brows\t high\t on\t his\t head.\t \\\"That scroll\tcould\thave\tbeen\tinvaluable.\\\" She\tshrugged.\t\\\"He\tlooked\tlike\the\tcould\tuse\tthe\texercise.\\\" And\t then\t she\t was\t smiling.\t Hesitantly\t at\t first,\t then\t she\t shook\t her\t head,\t and the\tsmile\tbloomed\twide\tenough\tto\tshow\ther\tteeth. It\twas\tonly\twhen\tshe\tlooked\tat\thim\tagain\tthat\the\trealized\the'd\tbeen\tstaring, trying\t to\t sort\t of\t the\t difference\t between\t this\t smile\t and\t the\t smile\t she'd\t given\t his father\tthe\tday\tshe'd\tput\tGrave's\thead\ton\tthe\tcouncil\ttable. As\t if\t she\t could\t read\t his\t thoughts,\t she\t said:\t \\\"I\t apologize\t for\t my\t behavior lately.\tI\thaven't.\tbeen\tmyself.\\\" Or\tshe'd\tjust\tbeen\ta\tpart\tof\therself\tthat\tshe\tusually\tkept\ton\ta\ttight,\ttight\tleash, he\tthought.\tBut\the\tsaid,\t\\\"I\tunderstand.\\\" And\t from\t the\t way\t her\t eyes\t softened,\t he\t knew\t that\t was\t all\t he'd\t ever\t needed to\tsay. Chaol\twasn't\thiding\tfrom\this\tfather.\tAnd\the\twasn't\thiding\tfrom\tCelaena.\tAnd he\twasn't\thiding\tfrom\this\tmen,\twho\tnow\tfelt\tsome\tridiculous\turge\tto\tlook\tafter him. But\tthe\tlibrary\tdid\toffer\ta\tgood\tamount\tof\trefuge\tand\tprivacy. Maybe\tanswers,\ttoo.","The\thead\tlibrarian\twasn't\t in\tthe\tlittle\t office\ttucked\tinto\tone\t of\twalls\tof\t the library.\t So\t Chaol\t had\t asked\t an\t apprentice.\t The\t gawking\t youth\t pointed,\t gave some\tvague\tdirections,\tand\ttold\thim\tgood\tluck. Chaol\tfollowed\tthe\tboy's\tdirection\tup\ta\tsweeping\tflight\tof\tblack\tmarble\tstairs and\t alongside\t the\t mezzanine\t rail.\t He\t was\t about\t to\t turn\t down\t an\t aisle\t of\t books when\the\theard\tthem\tspeaking. Actually,\the\theard\tFleetfoot's\tprancing\tfirst,\tand\tlooked\tover\tthe\tmarble\trail in\t time\t to\t see\t Celaena\t and\t Dorian\t walking\t toward\t the\t towering\t main\t doors. They\t were\t a\t comfortable,\t casual\t distance\t apart,\t but.\t but\t she\t was\t talking.\t Her shoulders\twere\trelaxed,\ther\tgait\tsmooth.\tSo\tdifferent\tfrom\tthe\twoman\tof\tshadow and\tdarkness\tthat\the'd\tseen\tyesterday. What\twere\tthe\ttwo\tof\tthem\tdoing\there--together? It\t wasn't\t his\t business.\t Frankly,\t he\t was\t grateful\t that\t she\t was\t talking\t to anyone,\t and\t not\t burning\t her\t clothes\t or\t butchering\t rogue\t assassins.\t Still, something\ttwanged\tin\this\theart\tthat\tDorian\twas\tthe\tone\tbeside\ther. But\tshe\twas\ttalking. So\t Chaol\t quickly\t turned\t from\t the\t balcony\t rail\t and\t walked\t deeper\t into\t the library,\t trying\t to\t shove\t the\t image\t from\t his\t mind.\t He\t found\t Harlan\t Sensel,\t the head\t librarian,\t huffing\t and\t puffing\t down\t one\t of\t the\t main\t paths\t through\t the library,\tshaking\ta\tfistful\tof\tpaper\tshreds\tat\tthe\tair\taround\thim. Sensel\twas\tso\tbusy\tcursing\tthat\the\thardly\tnoticed\twhen\tChaol\tstepped\tin\this path.\t The\t librarian\t had\t to\t tilt\t his\t head\t back\t to\t see\t Chaol,\t and\t then\t frowned\t at him. \\\"Good,\tyou're\there,\\\"\tSensel\tsaid,\tand\tresumed\twalking.\t\\\"Higgins\tmust\thave sent\tword.\\\" Chaol\t had\t no\t idea\t what\t Sensel\t was\t talking\t about.\t \\\"Is\t there\t some\t issue\t that you\tneed\tassistance\twith?\\\" \\\"Issue!\\\"\t Sensel\t waved\t his\t fist\t of\t shredded\t papers.\t \\\"There\t are\t feral\t beasts running\t amok\t in\t my\t library!\t Who\t let\t that--that\t creature\t in\t here?\t I\t demand\t that they\tpay!\\\" Chaol\thad\thad\ta\tfeeling\tthat\tCelaena\thad\tsomething\tto\tdo\twith\tthis.\tHe\tjust hoped\tshe\tand\tFleetfoot\twere\tout\tof\tthe\tlibrary\tbefore\tSensel\treached\tthe\toffice. \\\"What\tsort\tof\tscroll\twas\tdamaged?\tI'll\tsee\tto\tit\tthat\tthey\treplace","it.\\\" \\\"Replace\tit!\\\"\tSensel\tsputtered.\t\\\"Replace\tthis?\\\" \\\"What,\texactly,\tis\tit?\\\" \\\"A\tletter!\tA\tletter\tfrom\ta\tvery\tclose\tfriend\tof\tmine!\\\" He\tbit\tback\this\tannoyance.\t\\\"If\tit's\tjust\ta\tletter,\tthen\tI\tdon't\tthink\tthe\tcreature's owner\t can\t offer\t a\t payment.\t Though\t perhaps\t they'd\t be\t happy\t to\t donate\t a\t few books\tin--\\\" \\\"Throw\t them\t in\t the\t dungeons!\t My\t library\t has\t become\t little\t more\t than\t a circus!\t Did\t you\t know\t that\t there's\t a\t cloaked\t person\t skulking\t about\t the\t stacks\t at all\thours\tof\tthe\tnight?\tThey\tprobably\tunleashed\tthat\thorrible\tbeast\tin\tthe\tlibrary! So\ttrack\tthem\tdown\tand--\\\" \\\"The\tdungeons\tare\tfull,\\\"\tChaol\tlied.\t\\\"But\tI'll\tlook\tinto\tit.\\\"\tWhile\tSensel\thad finished\t his\t rant\t about\t the\t truly\t exhausting\t hunt\t he'd\t gone\t on\t to\t retrieve\t the letter,\tChaol\tdebated\twhether\the\tshould\tjust\tleave. But\t he\t had\t questions,\t and\t once\t they\t reached\t the\t mezzanine\t and\t he\t was certain\t that\t Celaena,\t Fleetfoot,\t and\t Dorian\t were\t long\t gone,\t he\t said,\t \\\"I\t have\t a question\tfor\tyou,\tsir.\\\" Sensel\tpreened\tat\tthe\thonorific,\tand\tChaol\ttried\this\tbest\tto\tlook\tuninterested. \\\"If\tI\twanted\tto\tlook\tup\tfuneral\tdirges--laments--from\tother\tkingdoms,\twhere would\tbe\tthe\tbest\tplace\tto\tstart?\\\" Sensel\tgave\thim\ta\tconfused\tlook,\tthen\tsaid:\t\\\"What\ta\tdreadful\tsubject.\\\" Chaol\t shrugged\t and\t took\t a\t shot\t in\t the\t dark.\t \\\"One\t of\t my\t men\t is\t from Terrasen,\tand\this\tmother\trecently\tdied,\tso\tI'd\tlike\tto\thonor\thim\tby\tlearning\tone of\ttheir\tsongs.\\\" \\\"Is\t that\t what\t the\t king\t pays\t you\t to\t do--learn\t sad\t songs\t to\t serenade\t your men?\\\" He\t almost\t snorted\t at\t the\t idea\t of\t serenading\t his\t men,\t but\t shrugged\t again. \\\"Are\tthere\tany\tbooks\twhere\tthose\tsongs\tmight\tbe?\\\" Even\t a\t day\t later,\t he\t couldn't\t get\t the\t song\t out\t of\t his\t head,\t couldn't\t stop\t the chill\t that\t went\t up\t his\t neck\t when\t its\t words\t echoed\t through\t his\t mind.\t And\t then there\t were\t those\t other\t words,\t the\t words\t that\t had\t changed\t everything:\t You\t will always\tbe\tmy\tenemy.","She\twas\thiding\tsomething.\tA\tsecret\tshe\tkept\tlocked\tup\tso\ttight\tthat\tonly\tthe horror\tand\tshattering\tloss\tof\tthat\tnight\tcould\thave\tmade\ther\tslip\tin\tsuch\ta\tway. So\t the\t more\t he\t could\t discover\t about\t her,\t the\t better\t chance\t he\t stood\t of\t being prepared\twhen\tthe\tsecret\tcame\tto\tlight. \\\"Hmmm,\\\"\tthe\tlittle\tlibrarian\tsaid,\twalking\tdown\tthe\tmain\tsteps.\t\\\"Well,\tmost of\tthe\tsongs\twere\tnever\twritten\tdown.\tAnd\twhy\twould\tthey\tbe?\\\" \\\"Surely\t the\t scholars\t in\t Terrasen\t recorded\t some\t of\t them.\t Orynth\t had\t the greatest\tlibrary\tin\tErilea\tat\tone\ttime,\\\"\tChaol\tcountered. \\\"That\t they\t did,\\\"\t Sensel\t said,\t a\t twinge\t of\t sorrow\t in\t his\t words.\t \\\"But\t I\t don't think\tanyone\tever\tbothered\tto\twrite\tdown\ttheir\tdirges.\tAt\tleast,\tnot\tin\ta\tway\tthat would\thave\tmade\tit\there.\\\" \\\"What\tabout\tdirges\tin\tanother\tlanguage?\tMy\tguard\tfrom\tTerrasen\tmentioned something\tabout\ta\tdirge\the\tonce\theard\tsung\tin\tanother\ttongue--though\the\tnever learned\twhat\tit\twas.\\\" The\t librarian\t stroked\t his\t silver\t beard.\t \\\"Another\t language?\t Everyone\t in Terrasen\tspeaks\tthe\tcommon\ttongue.\tNo\tone's\tspoken\ta\tdifferent\tlanguage\tthere for\ta\tthousand\tyears.\\\" They\t were\t close\t to\t the\t office,\t and\t he\t knew\t that\t once\t they\t arrived,\t the\t little bastard\t would\t probably\t shut\t him\t out\t until\t he'd\t brought\t Fleetfoot\t to\t justice. Chaol\tpressed\thim\ta\tbit\tharder.\t\\\"So\tthere\tare\tno\tdirges\tin\tTerrasen\tthat\tare\tsung in\ta\tdifferent\tlanguage?\\\" \\\"No,\\\"\the\tsaid,\tdrawing\tout\tthe\tword\tas\the\tpondered.\t\\\"But\tI\tonce\theard\tthat\tin the\thigh\tcourt\tof\tTerrasen,\twhen\tthe\tnobility\tdied,\tthey sang\ttheir\tlaments\tin\tthe\tlanguage\tof\tthe\tFae.\\\" Chaol's\tblood\tfroze,\tand\the\talmost\ttripped,\tbut\the\tmanaged\tto\tkeep\twalking and\t say:\t \\\"Would\t these\t songs\t have\t been\t known\t by\t everyone--not\t just\t the nobility?\\\" \\\"Oh,\tno,\\\"\tSensel\tsaid,\tonly\thalf-listening\tas\the\trecited\twhatever\thistory\twas in\t his\t head.\t \\\"Those\t songs\t were\t sacred\t to\t the\t court.\t Only\t those\t of\t noble\t blood ever\t sang\t or\t learned\t them.\t They\t were\t taught\t and\t sung\t in\t secret,\t their\t dead buried\t by\t the\t light\t of\t the\t moon,\t when\t no\t other\t ears\t could\t hear\t them.\t At\t least, that's\t what\t rumor\t claimed.\t I'll\t admit\t my\t own\t morbid\t curiosity\t in\t that\t I'd\t hoped to\thear\tthem\tten\tyears\tago,\tbut\tby\tthe\ttime\tthe\tslaughter\thad\tended,\tthere\twas\tno one\tleft\tin\tthose\tnoble\thouses\tto\tsing\tthem.\\\"","No\tone,\texcept. You\twill\talways\tbe\tmy\tenemy. \\\"Thank\t you,\\\"\t Chaol\t got\t out,\t and\t quickly\t turned\t away,\t walking\t toward\t the exit.\t Sensel\t called\t after\t him,\t demanding\t his\t oath\t that\t he'd\t find\t the\t dog\t and punish\tit,\tbut\tChaol\tdidn't\tbother\tto\treply. Which\thouse\tdid\tshe\tbelong\tto?\tHer\tparents\thadn't\tjust\tbeen\tmurdered--they were\tpart\tof\tthe\tnobility\twho\thad\tbeen\texecuted\tby\tthe\tking. She'd\t been\t found\t in\t their\t bed--after\t they'd\t been\t killed.\t And\t then\t she\t must have\trun\tuntil\tshe\tfound\tthe\tplace\twhere\ta\tTerrasen's\tnobleman's\tdaughter\tcould hide:\tthe\tAssassin's\tKeep.\tShe'd\tlearned\tthe\tonly\tskills\tthat\tcould\tkeep\ther\tsafe. To\tescape\tdeath,\tshe'd\tbecome\tdeath. Regardless\tof\twhat\tterritory\ther\tparents\thad\tlorded\tover,\tif\tCelaena\tever\ttook up\tthe\tmantle\tshe'd\tlost,\tand\tifTerrasen\tever\tgot\tto\tits\tfeet. Then\t Celaena\t could\t become\t a\t powerhouse--potentially\t capable\t of\t standing against\tAdarlan.\tAnd\tthat\tmade\tCelaena\tmore\tthan\tjust\this\tenemy. It\tmade\ther\tthe\tgreatest\tthreat\the'd\tever\tencountered.","Hidden\t in\t the\t shadow\t of\t a\t chimney\t atop\t an\t elegant\t townhouse,\t Celaena watched\t the\t house\t next\t door.\t For\t the\t last\t thirty\t minutes,\t people\t had\t been slipping\t inside,\t all\t cloaked\t and\t hooded--looking\t like\t nothing\t more\t than\t cold patrons\teager\tto\tget\tout\tof\tthe\tfreezing\tnight. She'd\t meant\t it\t when\t she\t told\t Archer\t she\t wanted\t nothing\t to\t do\t with\t him\t or his\tmovement.\tAnd\thonestly,\tthere\twas\ta\tpart\tof\ther\tthat\twondered\tif\tshe\tshould just\tkill\tthem\tall\tand\ttoss\ttheir\theads\tat\tthe\tking's\tfeet.\tBut\tNehemia\thad\tbeen\ta part\tof\tthis\tgroup.\tAnd\teven\tif\tNehemia\thad\tpretended\tshe\tdidn't\tknow\tanything about\t these\t people.\t They\t were\t still\t her\t people.\t She\t hadn't\t lied\t to\t Archer\t when she\ttold\thim\tthat\tshe'd\tbought\thim\ta\tfew\textra\tdays--after\tturning\tover\tCouncilor Mullison,\tthe\tking\tdidn't\thesitate\tto\tgrant\ther\ta\tbit\tmore\ttime\tto\tkill\tArcher. A\tsnow\tflurry\tgusted\tup,\tveiling\ther\tview\tof\tthe\tfront\tof\tArcher's\ttownhouse. To\t anyone,\t the\t gathering\t seemed\t like\t a\t dinner\t party\t for\t his\t clients.\t She\t knew only\t few\t of\t the\t faces--and\t bodies--that\t hurried\t up\t the\t steps,\t people\t who\t hadn't fled\tthe\tkingdom\tor\tbeen\tkilled\tby\ther that\tnight\teverything\twent\tto\thell. There\t were\t many\t more\t whose\t names\t she\t didn't\t know.\t She\t recognized\t the guard\tthat\thad\tstood\tbetween\ther\tand\tChaol\tat\tthe\twarehouse--the\tman\twho\thad been\tso\teager\tfor\ta\tfight.\tNot\tby\this\tface,\twhich\thad\tbeen\tmasked\tthat\tnight,\tbut by\t the\t way\t he\t moved.\t By\t the\t twin\t swords\t strapped\t to\t his\t back.\t He\t still\t wore\t a hood,\tbut\tshe\tcould\tsee\tshoulder-length\tdark\thair\tgleaming\tbeneath\tit,\tand\twhat looked\tlike\tthe\ttan\tskin\tof\ta\tyoung\tman. He\t paused\t at\t the\t bottom\t step,\t half-turning\t to\t quietly\t utter\t commands\t to\t the two\thooded\tmen\tflanking\thim.\tWith\ta\tnod,\tthey\tboth\tvanished\tinto\tthe\tnight. She\t contemplated\t trailing\t one\t of\t them.\t But\t she'd\t only\t come\t to\t check\t on Archer,\tto\tsee\twhat\the\twas\tup\tto.\tShe\tplanned\tto\tkeep\tchecking\ton\thim\tuntil\tthe moment\t he\t got\t on\t that\t boat\t and\t sailed\t away.\t And\t once\t he\t was\t gone\t in\t a\t few days,\t once\t she'd\t given\t the\t king\t his\t fake\t corpse.\t She\t didn't\t know\t what\t she'd\t do then. Celaena\t slipped\t further\t behind\t the\t brick\t chimney\t as\t one\t of\t the\t guards scanned\t her\t rooftop\t for\t any\t sign\t of\t trouble\t before\t going\t on\t his\t way--to\t watch","one\tend\tof\tthe\tstreet,\tif\tshe\tguessed\tcorrectly. She\tstayed\tin\tthe\tshadows\tfor\ta\tfew\thours,\tmoving\tto\tthe\trooftop\tacross\tthe street\tto\tbetter\twatch\tthe\tfront\tof\tthe\thouse--until\tthe\tguests\tstarted\tleaving,\tone by\t one,\t looking\t for\t all\t the\t world\t like\t drunken\t revelers.\t She\t counted\t them,\t and marked\t what\t direction\t they\t went\t in\t and\t who\t walked\t with\t them,\t but\t the\t young man\twith\tthe\ttwin\tswords\twasn't\tthere. She\t might\t have\t convinced\t herself\t that\t he\t was\t another\t client\t of\t Archer's, even\this\tlover,\thad\tthe\tstranger's\ttwo\tguards\tnot\treturned\tand\tslipped\tinside. As\t the\t front\t door\t opened,\t she\t caught\t a\t glimpse\t of\t a\t tall,\t broadshouldered young\t man\t arguing\t with\t Archer\t in\t the\t foyer.\t His\t back\t was\t to\t the\t door,\t but\t his hood\t was\t off--confirming\t that\t he\t did\t indeed\t have\t night-black,\t shoulder-length hair\t and\t was\t armed\t to\t the\t teeth.\t She\t could\t see\t nothing\t else.\t His\t guards immediately\tflanked\thim,\tkeeping\ther\tfrom\tgetting\ta\tcloser\tlook\tbefore\tthe\tdoor shut\tagain. Not\tvery\tcareful--not\tvery\tinconspicuous. A\t moment\t later,\t the\t young\t man\t stormed\t out--hooded\t once\t more,\t his\t two men\tat\this\tside.\tArcher\tstood\tin\tthe\topen\tdoorway,\this\tface\tvisibly\tpale,\this\tarms crossed.\t The\t young\t man\t paused\t at\t the\t bottom\t of\t the\t steps,\t turning\t to\t give Archer\ta\tparticularly\tvulgar\tgesture. Even\t from\t the\t distance,\t Celaena\t could\t see\t the\t smile\t that\t Archer\t gave\t the man\tin\treturn.\tThere\twas\tnothing\tkind\tin\tit. She\t wished\t she'd\t been\t close\t enough\t to\t hear\t what\t they'd\t said,\t to\t understand what\tthis\twas\tall\tabout. Before,\tshe\twould\thave\ttrailed\tthe\tyoung\tstranger\tto\tseek\tout\tthe\tanswers. But\tthat\twas\tbefore.\tAnd\tnow.\tnow,\tshe\tdidn't\tparticularly\tcare. It\t was\t hard\t to\t care,\t she\t realized\t as\t she\t started\t the\t trek\t back\t to\t the\t castle. Incredibly\thard\tto\tcare,\twhen\tyou\tdidn't\thave\tanyone\tleft\tto\tcare\tabout. Celaena\tdidn't\tknow\twhat\tshe\twas\tdoing\tat\tthis\tdoor.\tEven\tthough\tthe\tguards at\t the\t foot\t of\t the\t tower\t had\t let\t her\t pass\t after\t checking\t her\t thoroughly\t for\t any weapons,\tshe\tdidn't\tdoubt\tfor\tone\tmoment\tthat\tword\twould\tgo\tright\tto\tChaol. She\twondered\tif\the'd\tdare\tstop\ther.\tIf\the'd\tever\tdare\tto\tutter\tanother\tword\tto her.\t Last\t night,\t even\t from\t the\t distance\t at\t the\t moonlit\t graveyard,\t she'd\t seen\t the still-healing\tcuts\ton\this\tcheek.\tShe\tdidn't\tknow\tif\tthey\tfilled\ther\twith\tsatisfaction","or\tguilt. Every\tlittle\tbit\tof\tinteraction\twas\tdraining,\tsomehow.\tHow\texhausted\twould she\tbe\tafter\ttonight? Celaena\tsighed\tand\tknocked\ton\tthe\twooden\tdoor.\tShe\twas\tfive\tminutes\tlate-- five\t minutes\t she'd\t spent\t debating\t whether\t she\t wanted\t to\t truly\t accept\t Dorian's offer\t to\t dine\t with\t him\t in\t his\t rooms.\t She'd\t almost\t eaten\t dinner\t in\t Rifthold instead. There\t was\t no\t answer\t to\t her\t knock\t at\t first,\t so\t she\t turned\t away,\t trying\t to avoid\t looking\t at\t the\t guards\t posted\t on\t the\t landing.\t It\t was\t stupid\t to\t come\t here, anyway. She\thad\tjust\ttaken\ta\tstep\tdown\tthe\tspiral\tstaircase\twhen\tthe\tdoor\topened. \\\"You\t know,\t I\t think\t this\t is\t the\t first\t time\t you've\t been\t to\t my\t little\t tower,\\\" Dorian\tsaid. Foot\t still\t in\t the\t air,\t Celaena\t collected\t herself\t before\t looking\t over\t her shoulder\tat\tthe\tCrown\tPrince. \\\"I\t was\t expecting\t more\t doom\t and\t gloom,\\\"\t she\t said,\t walking\t back\t up\t the steps.\t\\\"It's\tquite\tcozy.\\\" He\theld\tthe\tdoor\topen\tand\tnodded\tto\this\tguards.\t\\\"No\tneed\tto\tworry,\\\"\the\ttold them\tas\tCelaena\twalked\tinto\tthe\tprince's\tchambers. She'd\t expected\t grandeur\t and\t elegance,\t but\t Dorian's\t tower\t was.\t well,\t cozy was\t a\t good\t way\t to\t describe\t it.\t A\t bit\t shabby,\t too.\t There\t was\t a\t faded\t tapestry,\t a soot-stained\t fireplace,\t a\t moderately-sized\t four-poster\t bed,\t a\t desk\t heaped\t with papers\t by\t the\t window,\t and\t books.\t Stacks\t and\t mountains\t and\t towers\t and columns\t of\t books.\t They\t covered\t every\t surface,\t every\t bit\t of\t space\t along\t the walls. \\\"I\t think\t you\t need\t your\t own\t personal\t librarian,\\\"\t she\t muttered,\t and\t Dorian laughed. She\thadn't\trealized\thow\tmuch\tshe\tmissed\tthat\tsound.\tNot\tjust\this\tlaugh,\tbut her\town--any\tlaugh.\tEven\tif\tit\tfelt\twrong\tto\tlaugh\tthese\tdays,\tshe\tmissed\tit. \\\"If\t my\t servants\t had\t their\t way,\t these\t would\t all\t go\t to\t the\t library.\t Makes dusting\t rather\t hard\t for\t them.\\\"\t He\t stooped\t to\t pick\t up\t some\t clothes\t he'd\t left\t on the\tfloor. \\\"From\tthe\tmess,\tI'm\tsurprised\tto\thear\tyou\teven\thave\tservants.\\\"","Another\tlaugh\tas\the\tcarried\tthe\tpile\tof\tclothes\ttoward\ta\tdoor.\tIt\topened\tjust wide\tenough\tto\treveal\ta\tdressing\troom\talmost\tas\tbig\tas\ther\town,\tbut\tshe\tsaw\tno more\tthan\tthat\tbefore\the\tchucked\tthe\tclothes\tinside\tand\tshut\tthe\tdoor.\tAcross\tthe room,\t another\t door\t had\t to\t lead\t to\t a\t bathing\t chamber.\t \\\"I\t have\t a\t habit\t of\t telling them\tto\tgo\taway,\\\"\the\tsaid. \\\"Why?\\\"\t She\t walked\t to\t the\t worn\t red\tcouch\t before\t the\t fireplace\t and\t pushed off\tthe\tbooks\tthat\thad\talso\tbeen\tpiled\tthere. \\\"Because\tI\tknow\twhere\teverything\tin\tthis\troom\tis.\tAll\tthe\tbooks,\tthe\tpapers. And\t the\t moment\t they\t start\t cleaning,\t then\t those\t things\t get\t hopelessly\t organized and\ttucked\taway\tand\tI\tcan\tnever\tfind\tthem\tagain.\\\"\tHe\twas\tstraightening\tthe\tred cloth\t of\t his\t bedspread,\t which\t looked\t rumpled\t enough\t to\t suggest\t he'd\t been sprawled\tacross\tit\tuntil\tshe'd\tknocked. \\\"Don't\t you\t have\t people\t who\t dress\t you?\t I\t would\t have\t thought\t that\t Roland would\tbe\tyour\tdevoted\tservant,\tat\tleast.\\\" Dorian\tsnorted,\tplumping\this\tpillows.\t\\\"Roland's\ttried.\tThankfully,\the's\tbeen suffering\t from\t awful\t headaches\t lately\t and\t has\t backed\t off.\\\"\t That\t was\t good\t to hear--sort\t of.\t The\t last\t she'd\t bothered\t to\t check,\t the\t Lord\t of\t Meah\t had\t indeed become\tclose\tto\tDorian--a\tfriend,\teven.\t\\\"And,\\\"\tDorian\twent\ton,\t\\\"aside\tfrom\tmy refusal\t to\t find\t a\t bride,\t my\t mother's\t greatest\t annoyance\t is\t my\t refusal\t to\t be dressed\tby\tlords\teager\tto\twin\tmy\tfavor.\\\" That\t was\t unexpected.\t Dorian\t was\t always\t so\t well-dressed\t that\t she\t assumed he\thad\tpeople\tdoing\tit\tfor\thim. He\t went\t to\t the\t door\t to\t tell\t the\t guards\t to\t have\t their\t dinners\t brought\t up. \\\"Wine?\\\"\the\tasked\tfrom\tthe\twindow,\twhere\ta\tbottle\tand\ta\tfew\tglasses\twere\tkept. She\t shook\t her\t head,\t wondering\t where\t they'd\t even\t eat\t their\t food.\t The\t desk wasn't\tan\toption,\tand\tthe\ttable\tbefore\tthe\tfireplace\twas\ta\tminiature\tlibrary\ton\tits own.\t As\t if\t in\t answer,\t Dorian\t began\t clearing\t the\t table.\t \\\"Sorry,\\\"\t he\t said sheepishly.\t \\\"I\t meant\t to\t clear\t a\t space\t to\t eat\t before\t you\t got\t here,\t but\t I\t got wrapped\tup\tin\treading.\\\" She\tnodded,\tand\tsilence\tfell\tbetween\tthem,\tinterrupted\tonly\tby\tthe\tthud\tand hiss\tof\thim\tmoving\tbooks. \\\"So,\\\"\tDorian\tsaid\tquietly,\t\\\"can\tI\task\twhy\tyou\tdecided\tto\tjoin\tme\tfor\tdinner? You've\tmade\tit\tpretty\tclear\tthat\tyou\tdidn't\twant\tto\tspend\tany\ttime\twith\tme--and I\tthought\tyou\thad\twork\tto\tdo\ttonight.\\\"","Actually,\tshe'd\tbeen\tdownright\tawful\tto\thim.\tBut\the\tkept\this\tback\tto\ther,\tas if\tthe\tquestion\tdidn't\tmatter. And\t she\t didn't\t quite\t know\t why\t the\t words\t came\t out,\t but\t she\t spoke\t the\t truth anyway.\t\\\"Because\tI\thave\tnowhere\telse\tto\tgo.\\\" Sitting\tin\ther\trooms\tin\tsilence\tmade\tthe\tpain\tworse,\tgoing\tto\tthe\ttomb\tonly frustrated\t her,\t and\t the\t thought\t of\t Chaol\t still\t hurt\t so\t badly\t she\t couldn't\t breathe. Every\tmorning,\tshe\twalked\tFleetfoot\tby\therself.\tAnd\tthen\tran\talone\tin\tthe\tgame park.\tEven\tthe\tgirls\twho\thad\tonce\tlined\tthe\tgarden\tpathways,\twaiting\tfor\tChaol, had\tstopped\tshowing\tup. Dorian\t nodded,\t looking\t at\t her\t with\t kindness\t she\t couldn't\t stand.\t \\\"Then\t you will\talways\thave\ta\tplace\there.\\\" While\ttheir\tdinner\twas\tquiet,\tit\twasn't\tlachrymose.\tBut\tDorian\tcould\tstill\tsee the\t change\t in\t her--the\t hesitation\t and\t consideration\t behind\t her\t words,\t the moments\t when\t she\t thought\t he\t wasn't\t looking\t and\t an\t endless\t sorrow\t filled\t her eyes.\tShe\tkept\ttalking\tto\thim,\tthough,\tand\tanswered\tall\this\tquestions. Because\tI\thave\tnowhere\telse\tto\tgo. It\twasn't\tan\tinsult,\tnot\tthe\tway\tshe'd\tsaid\tit.\tAnd\tnow\tthat\tshe\twas\tdozing\ton his\tcouch,\tthe\tclock\thaving\trecently\tchimed\ttwo,\the\twondered\twhat\twas\tkeeping her\tfrom\tgoing\tback\tto\ther\town\trooms.\tClearly,\tshe\tdidn't\twant\tto\tbe\talone--and maybe\tshe\tneeded\tto\tbe\tin\ta\tplace\tthat\tdidn't\tremind\ther\tof\tNehemia. Her\tbody\twas\ta\tpatchwork\tof\tscars,\the'd\tseen\tit\twith\this\town\teyes,\tbut\tthese new\t scars\t might\t go\t deeper:\t the\t pain\t of\t losing\t Nehemia,\t and\t the\t different,\t but perhaps\tjust\tas\tagonizing,\tloss\tof\tChaol. An\tawful\tpart\tof\thim\twas\tglad\tshe'd\tcut\tout\tChaol.\tHe\thated\thimself\tfor\tit. \\\"There\thas\tto\tbe\tsomething\tmore\there,\\\"\tCelaena\tsaid\tto\tMort\tas\tshe\tcombed through\tthe\ttomb\tthe\tfollowing\tafternoon. Yesterday,\t she'd\t read\t the\t riddle\t until\t her\t eyes\t ached\t just\t sliding\t across\t the paper.\t Still\t it\t offered\t no\t hint\t about\t what\t the\t objects\t might\t be,\t where\t precisely they\t were\t concealed,\t or\t why\t the\t riddle\t was\t hidden\t so\t elaborately\t in\t the\t tomb. \\\"Some\tsort\tof\tclue.\tSomething\tthat\tconnects\tthe\triddle\tto\tthe\trebel\tmovement\tto Nehemia\t and\t Elena\t and\t all\t the\t rest.\\\"\t She\t paused\t between\t the\t two\t sarcophagi. Sunlight\t spilled\t in,\t setting\t the\t dust\t motes\t shimmering.\t \\\"It's\t staring\t me\t in\t the face,\tI\tknow\tit.\\\" \\\"I'm\t afraid\t I\t can't\t be\t of\t service,\\\"\t Mort\t sniffed.\t \\\"If\t you\t want\t an\t instant","answer,\tyou\tshould\tfind\tyourself\ta\tseer\tor\tan\toracle.\\\" Celaena\tslowed\ther\tpacing.\t\\\"You\tthink\tif\tI\tread\tthis\tto\tsomeone\twith\tthe\tgift of\t clairvoyance,\t they\t might\t be\t able\t to.\t see\t some\t different\t meaning\t that\t I'm missing?\\\" \\\"Perhaps.\tThough\tas\tfar\tas\tI\tknow,\twhen\tmagic\tvanished,\tthose\twith\tthe\tgift of\tSight\tlost\tit,\ttoo.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tbut\tyou're\tstill\there.\\\" \\\"So?\\\" Celaena\tlooked\tat\tthe\tstone\tceiling,\tas\tif\tshe\tcould\tsee\tthrough\tit,\tall\tthe\tway to\tthe\tground\tabove.\t\\\"So\tperhaps\tother\tancient\tbeings\tmight\tretain\tsome\tof\ttheir gifts,\ttoo.\\\" \\\"Whatever\tit\tis\tyou're\tthinking,\tI\tguarantee\tit's\ta\tbad\tidea.\\\"\tCelaena\tgave\thim a\tgrim\tsmile.\t\\\"I'm\tpretty\tsure\tyou're\tright.\\\"","Celaena\t stood\t before\t the\t caravans,\t watching\t as\t the\t tents\t were\t taken\t apart. Fortunate\ttiming. She\t ran\t a\t hand\t through\t her\t unbound\t hair\t and\t straightened\t her\t brown\t tunic. Finery\t would\t have\t attracted\t too\t much\t attention.\t And\t even\t if\t it\t was\t just\t for\t an hour,\t she\t couldn't\t help\t but\t savor\t the\t feeling\t of\t anonymity.\t Of\t blending\t in\t with the\t carnival\t workers,\t these\t people\t who\t had\t the\t dust\t of\t a\t hundred\t kingdoms\t on their\t clothes.\t To\t have\t that\t sort\t of\t freedom,\t to\t see\t the\t world\t bit\t by\t bit,\t to\t travel each\tand\tevery\troad.\tHer\tchest\ttightened. People\tstreamed\tby,\thardly\tglancing\tat\ther\tas\tshe\tmade\ther\tway\tto\tthe\tblack wagon.\t This\t could\t easily\t be\t folly,\t but\t what\t harm\t was\t there\t in\t asking?\t If Yellowlegs\ttruly\twas\ta\twitch,\tthen\tperhaps\tshe\thad\tthe\tgift\tof\tSight.\tPerhaps\tshe could\tmake\tsense\tof\tthe\triddle\tin\tthe\ttomb. When\tCelaena\treached\tthe\twagon,\tit\twas\tmercifully\tdevoid\tof\tpatrons.\tBaba Yellowlegs\t sat\t on\t the\t top\t stair,\t smoking\t a\t long\t bone\t pipe\t whose\t bowl\t was shaped\tlike\ta\tscreaming\tmouth.\tPleasant. \\\"Come\tto\tlook\tinto\tthe\tmirrors?\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\tsmoke\tspilling\tfrom\ther withered\tlips.\t\\\"Done\trunning\tfrom\tFate\tat\tlast?\\\" \\\"I\thave\tsome\tquestions\tfor\tyou.\\\" The\t witch\t sniffed\t her,\t and\t Celaena\t fought\t the\t urge\t to\t step\t back.\t \\\"You\t do indeed\tstink\tof\tquestions--and\tthe\tStaghorn\tMountains.\tFrom\tTerrasen,\tare\tyou? What's\tyour\tname?\\\" Celaena\t stuck\t her\t hands\t deep\t in\t her\t pockets.\t \\\"Lillian\t Gordaina.\\\"\t The\t witch spat\t on\t the\t ground.\t \\\"What's\t your\t real\t name,\t Lillian?\\\"\t Celaena\t stiffened. Yellowlegs\t crowed\t with\t laughter.\t \\\"Come,\\\"\t she\t cawed,\t \\\"want\t to\t your\t fortune told?\t I\t can\t tell\t you\t who\t you'll\t marry,\t how\t many\t children\t you'll\t have,\t when you'll\tdie.\\\" \\\"If\tyou're\tindeed\tas\tgood\tas\tyou\tclaim,\tyou\tknow\tI'm\tnot\tinterested\tin\tthose things.\tI'd\tlike\tto\ttalk\tto\tyou\tinstead,\\\"\tCelaena\tsaid,\tflashing\tthe\tthree\tgold\tcoins in\ther\tpalm.","\\\"Cheap\t goat,\\\"\t Yellowlegs\t said,\t taking\t another\t long\t drag\t from\t the\t pipe. \\\"That's\tall\tmy\tgifts\tare\tworth\tto\tyou?\\\" Perhaps\t this\t would\t be\t a\t waste\t of\t time.\t And\t money.\t And\t pride.\t Celaena turned\taway\twith\ta\tscowl,\tshoving\ther\thands\tinto\tthe\tpockets\tof\ther\tdark\tcloak. \\\"Wait,\\\"\tYellowlegs\tsaid. Celaena\tkept\twalking. \\\"The\tprince\tgave\tme\tfour\tcoins.\\\" She\t paused\t her\t steps\t and\t looked\t over\t her\t shoulder\t at\t the\t crone.\t A\t cold, clawed\thand\tgripped\ther\theart. Yellowlegs\tsmiled\tat\ther.\t\\\"He\thad\tsuch\tinteresting\tquestions,\ttoo.\tHe\tthought I\tdidn't\trecognize\thim,\tbut\tI\tcan\tsmell\tHavilliard\tblood\ta\tmile\toff.\t Seven\t gold pieces,\tand\tI'll\tanswer\tyour\tquestions--and\ttell\tyou\this.\\\" She'd\t sell\t Dorian's\t questions\t to\t her--to\t anyone?\t That\t familiar\t calm\t went through\ther.\t\\\"How\tdo\tI\tknow\tyou're\tnot\tlying?\\\" Yellowlegs'\t iron\t teeth\t glinted\t in\t the\t light\t of\t the\t torches.\t \\\"It'd\t be\t bad\t for business\tif\tI\twas\tbranded\ta\tliar.\tWould\tit\tmake\tyou\tmore\tcomfortable\tif\tI\tswore on\tone\tof\tyour\tsoft-hearted\tgods?\tOr\tperhaps\ton\tone\tof\tmine?\\\" Celaena\t studied\t the\t black\t wagon,\t swiftly\t braiding\t her\t hair\t back.\t One\t door, no\tback\texit,\tno\tsign\tof\ttrick\tpanels.\tNo\tway\tout,\tand\tplenty\tof\twarning\tin\tcase someone\t came\t in.\t She\t checked\t her\t weapons--\t two\t long\t daggers,\t a\t knife\t in\t her boot,\tand\tthree\tof\tPhilippa's\tdeadly\thairpins.\tMore\tthan\tenough. \\\"Make\tit\tsix\tcoins,\\\"\tCelaena\tsaid\tsoftly,\t\\\"and\tI\twon't\treport\tyou\tto\tthe\tguard for\ttrying\tto\tsell\tthe\tprince's\tsecrets.\\\" \\\"Who\t says\t the\t guard\t won't\t be\t interested\t in\t them,\t too?\t You'd\t be\t surprised how\tmany\tpeople\twant\tto\tknow\twhat\ttruly\tinterests\tthe\tprince\tof\tthe\trealm.\\\" Celaena\t slammed\t six\t gold\t coins\t onto\t the\t step\t beside\t the\t tiny\t crone.\t \\\"Three pieces\tfor\tmy\tquestions,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\tbringing\ther\tface\tas\tclose\tto\tYellowlegs's\tas she\t dared.\t The\t reek\t from\t the\t woman's\t mouth\t was\t like\t carrion\t and\t stale\t smoke. \\\"And\t three\t for\t your\t silence\t about\t the\t prince.\\\"\t Yellowlegs's\t eyes\t gleamed,\t her iron\tnails\tclinking\ttogether\tas\tshe\tstretched\tout\ta\thand\tto\tgrab\tthe\tcoins.\t\\\"Get\tin the\t caravan.\\\"\t The\t door\t behind\t her\t swung\t open\t soundlessly.\t A\t dark\t interior\t lay beyond,\t speckled\t with\t patches\t of\t glimmering\t light.\t Yellowlegs\t snuffed\t out\t her bone\tpipe.","She'd\t been\t hoping\t for\t this--to\t get\t inside\t the\t caravan\t and\t thus\t avoid\t anyone seeing\ther\twith\tYellowlegs. The\t old\t woman\t groaned\t as\t she\t stood,\t a\t hand\t braced\t on\t her\t knee.\t \\\"Care\t to tell\tme\tyour\tname\tnow?\\\" A\t chill\t wind\t blew\t from\t within\t the\t caravan--sliding\t along\t Celaena's\t neck. Carnival\ttrick.\t\\\"I'll\task\tthe\tquestions,\\\"\tCelaena\tsaid,\tand\tstalked\tup\tthe\tsteps\tinto the\tcaravan. Inside,\tthere\twere\ta\tfew\tmeasly-looking\tcandles,\twhose\tlight\tflickered\talong row\t after\t row,\t stack\t after\t stack,\t of\t mirrors.\t They\t were\t every\t shape,\t every\t size, some\t leaning\t against\t walls,\t some\t propped\t against\t each\t other\t like\t old\t friends, some\tlittle\tmore\tthan\tshards\tclinging\tto\ttheir\tframes. And\t everywhere\t else,\t wherever\t there\t was\t a\t bit\t of\t space,\t were\t papers\t and scrolls,\tjars\tfull\tof\therbs\tor\tliquids,\tbrooms.\tJunk. In\tthe\tgloom,\tthe\tcaravan\tstretched\ton\tfar\twider\tand\tlonger\tthan\tshould\thave been\tpossible.\tA\twinding\tpath\thad\tbeen\tmade\tbetween\tthe\tmirrors,\tleading\tinto the\tdark--a\tpath\tthat\tYellowlegs\twas\tnow\ttreading,\tas\tif\tthere\twere\tanywhere\tto go\tinside\tthis\tstrange\tplace. This\tcant\tbe\treal--it\tmust\tbe\tan\tillusion\tof\tthe\tmirrors. Celaena\tglanced\tback\ttoward\tthe\twagon\tdoor\tin\ttime\tto\tsee\tit\tsnick\tshut.\tHer dagger\t was\t out\t before\t the\t sound\t had\t finished\t echoing\t through\t the\t wagon. Ahead,\tYellowlegs\tchuckled,\tlifting\tthe\tcandle\tin\ther\thand.\tIts\tholder\tseemed\tto be\tshaped\tlike\ta\tskull\tmounted\ton\tsome\tsort\tof\tlonger\tbone. Tacky,\tcheap\tcarnival\ttricks,\tCelaena\ttold\therself\tagain\tand\tagain,\ther\tbreath clouding\tin\tthe\tchill\tair\tinside\tthe\twagon.\tNone\tof\tit\twas\treal.\tBut\tYellowlegs-- the\tknowledge\tshe\toffered--truly\twas. \\\"Come\talong,\tgirl.\tCome\tsit\twith\tme\twhere\twe\tmight\ttalk.\\\" Celaena\t carefully\t stepped\t over\t a\t fallen\t mirror,\t keeping\t an\t eye\t on\t the bobbing\tskull-lantern--and\ton\tthe\tdoor,\ton\tany\tpossible\texits\t(none\tas\tfar\tas\tshe could\t see,\t but\t perhaps\t there\t was\t a\t trap\t door\t in\t the\t floor),\t on\t how\t the\t woman moved. Surprisingly\tfast,\tshe\trealized,\tand\thurried\tto\tcatch\tup\tto\tYellowlegs.\tAs\tshe strode\t through\t the\t mirrors,\t her\t reflection\t shifted\t everywhere.\t In\t one\t she appeared\tshort\tand\tfat,\tin\tanother\ttall\tand\timpossibly\tthin.\tIn\tanother\tshe\tstood upside\t down,\t and\t in\t another\t she\t walked\t sideways.\t It\t was\t enough\t to\t give\t her\t a","headache. \\\"Done\t gawking?\\\"\t Yellowlegs\t said.\t Celaena\t ignored\t her,\t but\t sheathed\t her dagger\tas\tshe\tfollowed\tthe\twoman\tinto\ta\tsmall\tsitting\tarea\tbefore\ta\tdim,\tgrated oven.\tNo\treason\tto\thave\ther\tweapon\tout--\tnot\twhen\tshe\tstill\tneeded\tYellowlegs to\tcooperate. The\t sitting\t area\t lay\t in\t a\t rough\t circle\t cleared\t of\t the\t junk\t and\t stacks\t of mirrors,\t with\t little\t more\t than\t a\t rug\t and\t a\t few\t chairs\t to\t make\t it\t hospitable. Yellowlegs\t hobbled\t over\t to\t the\t raised\t hearthstone,\t yanking\t a\t few\t logs\t from\t a tiny\tstack\tperched\ton\tthe\trim.\tCelaena\tremained\ton\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tworn\tred\trug, watching\t as\t Yellowlegs\t threw\t open\t the\t iron\t grate\t of\t the\t oven,\t tossed\t in\t the wood,\t and\t slammed\t the\t grate\t shut\t again.\t Within\t seconds,\t light\t flared,\t made brighter\tstill\tby\tthe\tsurrounding\tmirrors. \\\"The\t stones\t of\t this\t oven,\\\"\t Yellowlegs\t said,\t patting\t the\t curved\t wall\t of\t dark bricks\t like\t an\t old\t pet,\t \\\"came\t from\t the\t ruins\t of\t the\t Crochan\t capital\t city.\t The wood\tof\tthis\twagon\twas\thewn\tfrom\tthe\twalls\tof\ttheir\tsacred\tschools.\tThat's\twhy my\twagon\tis.\tunusual\tinside.\\\" Celaena\t said\t nothing.\t It\t would\t have\t been\t easy\t to\t dismiss\t it\t as\t a\t bit\t of carnival\tdramatics,\texcept\tshe\twas\tseeing\tit\tfor\therself. \\\"So,\\\"\tYellowlegs\tsaid,\tremaining\tstanding\tas\twell,\tdespite\tthe\taged\twooden furniture\tscattered\taround\tthem,\t\\\"questions.\\\" Even\tthough\tthe\tair\tin\tthe\twagon\twas\tchill,\tthe\tburning\toven\tsomehow\tmade it\t instantly\t warm--warm\t enough\t for\t her\t layers\t of\t clothing\t to\t be\t uncomfortable. She'd\t been\t told\t a\t story\t once,\t on\t a\t hot\t summer\t night\t in\t the\t Red\t Desert.\t A\t story about\twhat\tone\tof\tthe\tlong-lost\tIronteeth\twitches\thad\tdone\tto\ta\tyoung\tgirl.\tWhat had\tbeen\tleft\tof\ther. White,\tgleaming\tbones.\tNothing\tmore. Celaena\t glanced\t at\t the\t oven\t again\t and\t angled\t herself\t closer\t to\t the\t door. Across\t the\t small\t sitting\t area,\t more\t mirrors\t waited\t in\t the\t gloom--as\t if\t even\t the light\tof\tthe\tfire\tcouldn't\treach\tthem. Yellowlegs\tleaned\tcloser\tto\tthe\tgrate,\trubbing\ther\tgnarled\tfingers\tin\tfront\tof it.\tThe\tfirelight\tdanced\talong\ther\tiron\tnails.\t\\\"Ask\taway,\tgirl.\\\" What\thad\tDorian\twanted\tto\tknow\tso\tbadly?\tHad\the\tcome\tinside\tthis\tstrange, smothering\tplace?\tAt\tleast\the'd\tsurvived.\tIf\tonly\tbecause Yellowlegs\t wanted\t to\t use\t whatever\t information\t she'd\t gleaned\t from\t him.","Foolish,\tfoolish\tman. Was\tshe\tany\tdifferent,\tthough? This\tmight\tbe\ther\tonly\tchance\tto\tlearn\twhat\tshe\tneeded\tto\tknow,\tdespite\tthe risk,\tdespite\thow\tmessy\tand\tcomplicated\tthe\taftermath\tmight\tbe. \\\"I\tfound\t a\t riddle,\t and\t my\t friends\thave\t been\t debating\t its\t answer\t for\t weeks. We\teven\thave\ta\tbet\tgoing\tabout\tit,\\\"\tshe\tsaid\tas\tvaguely\tas\tshe\tcould.\t\\\"Answer\tit, if\t you're\t so\t clever\t and\t all-knowing.\t I'll\t toss\t in\t an\t extra\t gold\t coin\t if\t you\t get\t it right.\\\" \\\"Impudent\t children.\t Wasting\t my\t time\t with\t this\t nonsense.\\\"\t Yellowlegs watched\tthe\tmirrors\tnow,\tas\tif\tshe\tcould\tsee\tsomething\tCelaena\tcouldn't. Or\tas\tif\tshe's\talready\tbored. Some\tof\tthe\ttightness\tin\ther\tchest\tloosening,\tCelaena,\tpulled\tthe\triddle\tfrom her\tpocket\tand\tread\tit\taloud. When\t she\t was\t done,\t Yellowlegs\t slowly\t turned\t her\t head\t to\t Celaena,\t her voice\tlow\tand\trough.\t\\\"Where\tdid\tyou\tfind\tthat?\\\" Celaena\t shrugged.\t \\\"Give\t me\t the\t answer\t and\t I\t might\t tell\t you.\t What\t sort\t of objects\tdoes\tthis\triddle\tdescribe?\\\" \\\"Wyrdkeys,\\\"\t Yellowlegs\t breathed,\t eyes\t glowing.\t \\\"It\t describes\t the\t three Wyrdkeys\tto\topen\tthe\tWyrdgate.\\\" Cold\t slithered\t down\t Celaena's\t spine,\t but\t she\t said\t with\t more\t bravado\t than she\t felt:\t \\\"Tell\t me\t what\t they\t are--the\t Wyrdkeys,\t the\t Wyrdgate.\t For\t all\t I\t know, you\tmight\tbe\tlying\tabout\tthe\tanswer.\tI'd\trather\tnot\tbe\tmade\ta\tfool\tof.\\\" \\\"This\tinformation\tis\tnot\tfor\tthe\tidle\tgames\tof\tmortals,\\\"\tYellowlegs\tsnapped. Gold\tgleamed\tin\tCelaena's\tpalm.\t\\\"Name\tyour\tprice.\\\" The\t woman\t studied\t her\t from\t head\t to\t toe,\t sniffing\t once.\t \\\"Nameless\t is\t my price,\\\"\tYellowlegs\tsaid.\t\\\"But\tgold\twill\tdo\tfor\tnow.\\\" Celaena\tset\tfive\textra\tgold\tcoins\tdown\ton\tthe\thearthstone,\tthe\theat\tfrom\tthe flame\t singeing\t her\t face.\t From\t such\t a\t small\t fire,\t she\t was\t already\t slick\t with sweat. \\\"Once\tyou\tknow\tthis,\tthere\tis\tno\tunknowing\tit,\\\"\tthe\twitch\twarned.\tAnd\tfrom the\tgleam\tin\tYellowlegs'\teyes,\tCelaena\tknew\tthat\tthe\told\twoman\thadn't\tbought her\tlie\tabout\tthe\tbet\tfor\tone\theartbeat."]
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